Akuna Matata v. Texas NOM Ltd.

Akuna filed suit in federal court seeking dissolution of an oil and gas partnership and a determination of its ownership share. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of Akuna and ultimately ordered termination of the partnership and awarded $213,354.01 in partnership profits to Akuna, plus attorneys’ fees. The court rejected Garrisons' claim that Akuna's suit was barred by res judicata, concluding that this federal court suit to terminate the partnership, damages for breach of which had been adjudicated only nine months before the filing of this suit, still involves a different transaction. The court also concluded that Garrison was not deprived of a trial where the records supports that the nature of the district court proceeding approximates a trial on the merits because that court conducted a factual inquiry, assessed credibility, and weighed the evidence. Finally, the court rejected Garrison's claim that it was entitled to present oral testimony on the valuation and ownership issues. Accordingly, the court affirmed the judgment. View "Akuna Matata v. Texas NOM Ltd." on Justia Law