Eastland Court Reverses Trial Court's Refusal to Try Surface Damage Claim Despite Fair Notice Pleading Standard

In this Jones County oil and gas lease dispute, the Eastland Court of Appeals reversed a trial court's refusal to try a surface owner's breach of lease claim for cattle deaths and land damage from saltwater leaks, holding that allegations of breach and property damage satisfied Texas's fair notice pleading standard even without specific damages in the prayer for relief. The court also addressed whether demand letters seeking 18% monthly interest triggered usury counterclaims under the Texas Finance Code.