Jackson Walker Wins Courtroom Victory for Clients in Oil and Gas Dispute

July 2, 2014 | Client Results



On June 23, 2014, Jackson Walker obtained a complete victory for its clients, petroleum engineer Dr. John Myung and his company, CSM Operating, in a dispute over an oil and gas deal that was tried before a jury in the 165th Judicial District Court in Harris County, Texas.

Woolim Energy Holdings (the wholly-owned subsidiary of a Korean construction company) purchased a Texas oil and gas field and then sold 90% of the field to the plaintiff, Curocom (the wholly-owned subsidiary of a Korean pharmaceutical company). Curocom sued Woolim and several other parties, including Jackson Walker’s clients, for fraud in a real estate transaction, common law fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and breach of contract (against Woolim’s parent company).

At the conclusion of trial, the jury found that all defendants except Dr. Myung and CSM committed fraud and/or conspired to commit fraud and awarded $20.3 million in damages against the other defendants. Punitive damages were assessed against three defendants that did not include Jackson Walker’s clients. The jury also found Woolim’s parent company liable for breach of contract.

Dr. Myung and CSM were represented by a Jackson Walker trial team led by attorneys Kathy Silver, Jason Johns, and Mallory Beck, with support from paralegal Judy Minter, and legal administrative assistants Kimberly Aaron and Terri Denton. The successful outcome of this case demonstrates Jackson Walker’s deep experience in Energy Litigation, which includes representing clients in arbitration proceedings and in federal and state courts throughout the country, in virtually every kind of energy-related dispute.