MOUNTAIN VALLEY PIPELINE v. WESTERN POCAHONTAS

No. 18-1329.

918 F.3d 353 (2019)

MOUNTAIN VALLEY PIPELINE, LLC, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. WESTERN POCAHONTAS PROPERTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, Parcel ID No. 6-5F-1 (Terminated: 1/11/2018), 1-31-10, 1-30-8, 5-26-2, Defendant-Appellant, and D. Lane McMillion, Parcel ID No. 1-13-49, 1-13-68; Dale L. McMillion, Parcel ID No. 1-13-49, 1-13-68; Alicia D. McMillion, Parcel ID No. 1-13-49, 1-13-68; Paco Lane, Inc., Parcel ID No. 1-18-69; Brian Armstrong, Parcel ID Nos. 1-18-86, 1-18-84; Beth Armstrong, Parcel ID Nos. 1-18-86, 1-18-84; Jerry Allen Hammons, Parcel ID No. 1-24-35; Mary E. Hammons, Parcel ID No. 1-24-35; Bruce A. Roberts, Parcel ID No. 5-34-2; Kimberly Roberts, Parcel ID No. 5-34-2; Todd E. White, Parcel ID No. 5-34-4; Tamara L. White Delong, Parcel ID No. 5-34-4; Virginia D. McClung, Parcel ID No. 1-24-7; Connie McClung, Parcel ID No. 1-24-7; Artie Orlena Robinson, Parcel ID No. 5-14-22; David Lane Robinson, Parcel ID No. 5-14-22; Quinwood Coal Company, f/k/a Alex Energy, LLC, f/k/a Alex Energy, Incorporated, f/k/a Green Valley Coal Company, LLC, Parcel ID No. 5-15-28, 5-20-48, 11-30-19; C. L. Keener, Estate of (Parcel ID No. 11-22-75); James Keener, Parcel ID No. 11-22-75; Johnnie Ray Keener, Parcel ID No. 11-22-75; Brande Nicole Keener, Parcel ID No. 11-22-75; David Harmon, Parcel ID No. 11-22-75; Thomas Kenner, Parcel ID No. 11-22-75; Clyde Fox, Parcel ID No. 11-30-5; Michael Fox, Parcel ID No. 11-30-5; Naomi J. Fox, Parcel ID No. 11-30-5; Robert W. Fox, Parcel ID No. 11-30-5; Rex Coal Land Company, Parcel ID No. 11-39-7; Eugene Ray Tuckwiller, Parcel ID No. 11-54-13; Tina Robin Tuckwiller, Parcel ID No. 11-54-13; Silas Steven Tucker, Parcel ID No. 11-54-12; Laurel Tucker, Parcel ID No. 11-54-12; Jeffrey Dewayne Osborne, Parcel ID No. 11-68-33; Martha I. Kessler, Unknown heirs of (Parcel ID No. 3-13-24); Mary L. Surbaugh, Unknown heirs of (Parcel ID No. 3-13-24); Nora E. Vandall, Unknown heirs of (Parcel ID No. 3-13-24); Azel Ford Zickafoose, Unknown heirs of (Parcel ID No. 3-13-24); Joseph Orville Zickafoose, Unknown heirs of (Parcel ID No. 3-13-24); Robert C. Zickafoose, Unknown heirs of (Parcel ID No. 3-13-24); Doreen S. Allen, Parcel ID No. 11-68-10; Fredereck M. Osborne, Parcel ID No. 11-68-10; Jo Lynn Blankenship, Parcel ID No. 11-68-10; Mickey D. Osborne, Parcel ID No. 11-68-10; Scott S. Osborne, Parcel ID No. 11-68-10; Donna M. Huffman, Parcel ID No. 09-13-10.1; Norvel Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.3; Jean Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.3; Thomas B. Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.3; Hannah G. Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.3; Chloda Crosier, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.3; William H. Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.3; Lucy G. Booth, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.5; Harry L. Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.5; Nancy L. Phillips, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.5; Donald E. Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.5; Carl E. Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.5; Larry W. Mann, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.5; Bonnie K. Barberie, Parcel ID No. 05-25-31.5; Rebeccak.bragg, Parcel ID No. 05-5-27; Landcey Ragland, Parcel ID No. 05-14-1, 05-14-19.2, 05-14-24; John White, II, Parcel ID No. 05-14-21, 05-18-3.1, 05-19-11.2; Petrie Dobbs Brown, Parcel ID No. 05-18-3; Addison Dunlap Dobbs, Parcel ID No. 05-18-3; Lee Filmore Dobbs, III, Parcel ID No. 05-18-3; Oscar D. Darago, Parcel ID No. 05-18-11; David R. Hughes, Parcel ID No. 03-12-9; James Robert Persinger, Parcel ID No. 03-12-19; Lillian Sue Persinger, Parcel ID No. 03-12-19; Stephen C. Broyles, Parcel ID No. 05-31-25.3; Lorrie P. Broyles, Parcel ID No. 05-31-25.3; Paulette A. Sears, Trustee of the Paulette A. Sears Family Trust (Parcel ID No. 03-18-32, 03-18-4); Melanie J. Miller, Parcel ID No. 03-18-8, 03-18-9, 03-18-10; Anne C. Chambers, Executrix of the Estate of Thomas P. Long (Parcel ID No. 03-18-23.3); Thomas P. Long, The Estate of (Parcel ID No. 03-18-23.3); Carol M. Vass, Parcel ID No. 03-18-23.4; Kenneth L. Vass, Parcel ID No. 03-18-23.4; Lacy H. Toney, Trustee of the Lacy H. Toney Farm Trust (Parcel ID No. 03-30-18); Mountain Lair, LLC, Parcel ID No. 03-30-38; Danny Spence, Jr., Administrator of the Estate of Dannie Lee Spence (Parcel ID No. 03-12-7); Dannie Lee Spence, The Estate of (Parcel ID No. 03-12-7); Laura Bowen-Coffelt, Trustee of the Susan H. Leeper (a/k/a Ella Susan Houcins) Revocable Living Trust (Parcel ID No. 09-17-10); Susan H. Leeper, a/k/a Ella Susan Houcins, Revocable Living Trust (Parcel ID No. 09-17-10); Monte G. Mckenzie, Parcel ID No. 09-17-21; Elora C. Mckenzie, Parcel ID No. 09-17-21; Earl C. Williams, Parcel ID No. 05-25-1.13; Roger D. Crabtree, Parcel ID No. 03-30-18.8; Rebecca H. Crabtree, Parcel ID No. 03-30-18.8; Bonnie Larew Walsh, Parcel ID No. 05-14-25; Gladys Larew Carter, Parcel ID No. 05-14-25; James Tully Larew, Parcel ID No. 05-14-25; Janet Larew Haag, Parcel ID No. 05-14-25; Allan Walter Lehr, Parcel ID No. 03-12-22; J. H. Harrah, Heirs of (Parcel ID No. 3-12-23); Ira Hickman Harrah, Parcel ID No. 3-18-15; Richard Berkley, Parcel ID No. 7-4-20; Anne M. Berkley, Parcel ID No. 7-4-20; Connie Harper, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Melissa A. Leslie, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Anthony D. Richmond, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Dennis Wayne Richmond, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Rhonda Richmond, Administrator of the Estate of Roger L. Richmond (Parcel ID No. 7-4-19); Roger L. Richmond, The Estate of (Parcel ID No. 7-4-19); Sandra Richmond, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Ervin E. Richmond, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Gerald K. Richmond, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Jesse James Richmond, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Carolyn S. Walls, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Richard Dean Ward, Parcel ID No. 7-4-19; Ashby A. Boone, Parcel ID No. 7-7-27.3; Emma Jean Boone, Parcel ID No. 7-7-27.3; Dorothy Marie Boone Fogle, Parcel ID No. 7-7-27.3; Mark Grey Smith, Parcel ID No. 7-15A-5; Caitlyn A. Gragg, Parcel ID No. 7-15-125; Gene Wiseman, Trustee of the Wiseman Living Trust (Parcel ID No. 7-15-25); Phyllis M. Wiseman, Trustee of the Wiseman Living Trust (Parcel ID No. 7-15-25); Robert Jackson Holt, Parcel ID No. 3-23-16, 3-23-12, 3-23-15; Philip J. Harrah, Parcel ID No. 3-23-12.3, 3-23-12.4; Reinhard Bouman, Parcel ID No. 3-18-17, 3-23-12.2, 3-23-24, 3-18-16, 3-23-12.5; Ashofteh Assad-Bouman, Parcel ID No. 3-18-17, 3-23-12.2, 3-23-24, 3-18-16, 3-23-12.5; Meadow Creek Coal Corporation, Parcel ID No. 7-4-20.1; Kiranasa Swami, Parcel ID No. 3-18-17.1; Danny R. Berry, Parcel ID No. 7-15-80.7-80.13; Gregory L. Berry, Parcel ID No. 7-15-80.7-80.13; LC Miller, Jr., Parcel ID No. 7-13D-11; James R. Miller, Parcel ID No. 7-13D-11; Charles D. Simmons, Parcel ID No. 7-13D-11, 7-13-D-15; Sharon Simmons, Administratrix of the Estate of Charles D. Simmons (Parcel ID No. 7-13D-11, 7-13D-15); Joshua Simmons, Parcel ID No. 7-13D-11, 7-13D-15; Jerry L. Cannady, Parcel ID No. 7-13D-11, 7-13D-15; Bryan Simmons, Parcel ID No. 7-13D-11; Red Hawk Trust, Parcel ID No. 7-13E-10; William G. Lloyd, Parcel ID No. 7-12F-11; James McAllister, Parcel ID No. 7-13F-2; Hilry Gordon, Parcel ID No. 14-123-41; Chad W. Johnson, Parcel ID No. 14-163-86; Martha Jean Kotschenreuther, Parcel ID No. 14-163-86; Karen Jean Kotschenreuther, Parcel ID No. 14-163-86; Elsa Lyn Kotschenreuther, Parcel ID No. 14-163-86; Barbara June Reger, Estate of (Parcel ID No. 14-163-86); Barry G. Pallay, Parcel ID No. 18-242-23.1; Glenn D. Matheny, II, Parcel ID No. 18-282-108; Charles Chong, Parcel ID No. 18-322-14; Rebecca A. Eneix-Chong, Parcel ID No. 18-322-14; Courtney Cecil, Parcel ID No. 18-321-40; Stacey Postus, Parcel ID No. 18-321-40; Clifford S. Cleavenger, Parcel ID No. 18-321-40; Laura Cleavenger, Parcel ID No. 18-321-40; Teresa D. Erickson, POA for Gerald Wayne Corder (Parcel ID No. 20-362-20); Gerald Wayne Corder, Parcel ID No. 20-362-20; Lorena B. Krafft, POA for Randall N. Corder (Parcel ID No. 20-362-21); Kincheloe Mitigation Holdings LLC, Parcel ID No. 20-421-8, 20-421-5, 20-421-4, & 20-421-6, 03-4A-27 & 03-4A-29; Danny Martin, Parcel ID No. 18-321-40.5, 18-321-41; Tina Martin, Parcel ID No. 18-321-40.5, 18-321-41; Gary Casto, Parcel ID No. 02-4J-39.1; Sharon Casto, Parcel ID No. 02-4J-39.1; Averal Todd Casto, Parcel ID No. 02-4J-39.1; Arthur C. Roberts, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-19, 02-4L-12; Judy D. Roberts, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-19, 02-4L-12; Fred L. Golden, Parcel ID No. 01-4M-10, 01-4M-10.1; Sherman Gamble, Parcel ID No. 01-5P-5; Mary Gamble, Parcel ID No. 01-5P-5; David Finster, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-16; Donald J. Finster, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-16; Paul W. Finster, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-16; Dana M. Finster, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-25; Leonard G. Finster, Jr., Parcel ID No. 02-4L-25; Venice Eileen Finster, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-25; Diana Wimer, Parcel ID No. 02-4L-25; Brian Van Nostrand, Parcel ID No. 6-6D-10; Helen Montague Van Nostrand, Parcel ID No. 6-6D-10; George Ernest Bright, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; John A. Bright, Trustee of the John A. Bright Revocable Living Trust (Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1); William Townsend Bright, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; William H. Brown, Jr., Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; William Morrison, Trustee under the will of (Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1); Robert J. Morrison, Trustee under the will of (Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1); A. L. Morrison, for the benefit of (Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; C. F. Morrison, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; Helena M. Berry, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; HERMANRMORRISON, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; Martha M. Cooper, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; Ruth M. Ward, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; Mabel M. Lewis, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; Mary E. Sebring, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; Megann M. Sheppard, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; Jesse Frank Williams, IV, of the WMS WVMinerals Trust (Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1); WMS WVMinerals Trust, Parcel ID No. 6-6E-1; ICG Eastern, LLC, Parcel ID No. 4-4P-01, 4-4Q-13.1, 4-4Q-15, 4-4Q-16; Dale Eastham, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Travis Eastham, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Andrew Fairbanks, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Brent Fairbanks, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; David Fairbanks, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Michael Fairbanks, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Edward Charles Smith, Sr., Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Edward Charles Smith, II, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Todd Edward Smith, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Jeremy Collins, Parcel ID No. 4-14-39.3; Nancy Jane Shewmake Bates, Parcel ID No. 04-35-11; John H. Melvin, Parcel ID No. 04-29A-1.14; Pamela J. Melvin, Parcel ID No. 04-29A-1.14; Unknown Persons and Interested Parties; An Easement to Construct, Operate and Maintain a 42-inch Gas Transmission Line Across Properties in the Counties of Nicholas, Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers, West Virginia, et al; Cheryl L. Boone, Parcel ID No. 7-7-27.2; Kerry N. Boone, Parcel ID No. 7-7-27.2; Marjorie Boothe, Parcel ID No. 03-18-3; Rodger L. Boothe, Parcel ID No. 03-18-3; Cheryl Bowers, Parcel ID No. 03-18-11; Cynthia A. Broyles Morris, Trustee of the William S. Broyles Revocable Trust and the Virginia B. Broyles Revocable Trust, Parcel ID No. 03-24-39; William S. Broyles, Revocable Trust (Parcel ID No. 03-24-39); Tammy A. Capaldo, Parcel ID No. 7-15-125; Carla D. Fountain, Parcel ID No. 05-19-36, 05-19-24; Dennis F. Fountain, Parcel ID No. 05-19-36, 05-19-24; James Gore, Parcel ID No. 03-12-7, 03-12-8; Robert M. Jarrell, Parcel ID No. 7-11-15; David Allen Johnson, Parcel ID No. 05-19-9; Everett Johnson, Jr., Parcel ID No. 05-19-9; Wayne Johnson, Parcel ID No. 05-19-9; Maury Johnson, Parcel ID No. 05-19-9; Zane Lawhorn, Parcel ID No. 03-12-18; Barry G. Meadows, Parcel ID No. 03-12-18; Lisa B. Meadows, Parcel ID No. 03-12-18; Joyce A. Reese, Parcel ID No. 03-30-20; Roy P. Reese, Parcel ID No. 03-30-20; Kelley Anne Sandell Sills, Parcel ID No. 05-25-1, 05-25-1.6; Clarence Frank Sills, Jr., Parcel ID No. 05-25-1, 05-25-1.6; Elisabeth Tobey, Parcel ID No. 11-84-10; Ronald Tobey, Parcel ID No. 11-84-10; Austin B. Toney, Parcel ID No. 03-12-6; Rosetta B. Toney, Parcel ID No. 03-12-6; Thomas E. Toney, Parcel ID No. 03-12-6; Patricia J. Williams, Parcel ID No. 05-25-1.13; Orus Ashby Berkley, Parcel ID No. 7-15A-13, 7-15A-13.1; Virginia B. Broyles, Revocable Trust (Parcel ID No. 03-24-39), Defendants.

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.

Decided: March 13, 2019.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

ARGUED: George A. Patterson, III , BOWLES RICE, LLP, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellant. Nicolle Renee Snyder Bagnell , REED SMITH LLP, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Fazal A. Shere , BOWLES RICE, LLP, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellant. Colin E. Wrabley , REED SMITH LLP, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for Appellee.

Affirmed by published opinion. Chief Judge Gregory wrote the opinion, in which Judge Wynn and Judge Thacker joined.


This appeal arises from a condemnation proceeding commenced by Appellee Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC ("MVP"). MVP is a natural gas company that was authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") to exercise the right of eminent domain in order to construct a pipeline. The United States District Court for the...

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