Ninth Court affirms eminent domain powers of TransCanada Keystone Pipeline
“A Texas appeals court has ruled that a Beaumont judge did not err when he granted a foreign company’s petition to condemn land for the construction of a crude oil pipeline.
A group of Southeast Texas rice farmers balked at the land sale, so in June 2011 TransCanada filed a petition for condemnation against Texas Rice Land Partners, James and David Holland and Mike and Walter Latta.
On Sept. 24, 2012, Judge Tom Rugg, who was presiding over the Jefferson County Court at Law No. 1 at the time, ruled that TransCanada is a common carrier and therefore had the right to seize land in Jefferson County for the pipeline through the power of eminent domain.”
Yates, David. Southest Texas Record 23 May 2013.