Millions riding on whether West Texas jurors believe T. Boone Pickens or not

[TexasTowelie]

T. Boone Pickens is 88-years-old. His hearing and vision are poor. He tires quickly. The oil and gas mogul admits he's made billions of dollars and lost billions of dollars.

But seated in a witness chair in a West Texas courtroom for two days last week, Pickens said several hundred million of those dollars he lost were actually stolen from him and he wants it back.

Pickens' company, Mesa Petroleum Partners, accuses another legendary oil and gas name, J. Cleo Thompson, and three Midland-based energy firms of conspiring together to cheat him out of ownership interests and profits involving more than 160 leases to drill for oil in the "Red Bull" area of Reeves and Pecos counties.

Under oath, Pickens told jurors that the project with Thompson was "the biggest deal I was ever in." He called his former business partners "crooks."

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/2016/11/17/millions-riding-whether-west-texas-jurors-believe-t-boone-pickens

[Vogon_Glory]

1. Time was when I'd have sympathized with Pickens

Time was when I'd have sympathized with Pickens, but those days are gone.

Perhaps Pickens has good legal grounds to believe he was cheated, perhaps not.

One thing for sure: Pickens was a big fundraiser for the Republican Party and I can't help but wonder if this is the first bit of karma catching up with him.

[TexasTowelie]

5. See update.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/107832649

[Paladin]

2. Hell, that's an easy one.

Jurors, don't believe Boone Pickens.

I base that on 40 years experience in the Texas oil and gas business.

[TexasTowelie]

3. I suspect that they will see through it

and realize that a man of his age probably doesn't have the best memory. I would be wary of making a massive jury award based solely upon the word of an individual his age. Pickens needs to show some other type of evidence to prove his case and to counter the refund checks sent to him.

[TexasTowelie]

6. See update:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/107832649

[blogslut]

4. Is this to do with that Wolfcamp formation bonanza?

Oh lord. Of course Boone wants a piece. I love how he slips mention of his charitable contributions into testimony about his finances. Decrepit old man my ass, that devil is gonna live forever.

[TexasTowelie]

7. I don't believe that it encompasses the same area, but I'm not certain.

Here is an update on the story: http://www.democraticunderground.com/107832649