April 21, 2020 – After extensive briefing, Judge Robert Schaffer of the 152nd Judicial District Court in Harris County, Texas dismissed claims alleging that LWS client, Merit Energy Company, L.L.C., contaminated a complainant’s surface estate and groundwater with oil and gas operations. Lead counsel, Andrew Szygenda, argued that aside from the complete absence of evidence that Merit polluted any property, the plaintiff’s knowledge of alleged issues occurred more than two years before he filed suit, causing the suit to be barred by the statute of limitations. Judge Schaffer agreed, granting summary judgment in favor of Merit. Mr. Szygenda was assisted by Robert Wise and Aimee Szygenda in obtaining a complete victory for Merit. The case is styled Ali Reza Lahijani v. Merit Energy Company, L.L.C., et al., No. 2019-42539, in the 152nd Judicial District, Harris County, Texas. Lahijani has appealed the dismissal, and Mr. Wise is handling the appeal.
