North Dakota is one of a dozen states asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a dispute between North Dakota landowners and a pipeline project. WBI Energy used eminent domain to acquire private property from McKenzie County ranchers in 2018. The ranchers were later compensated for that land, but a disagreement continues over legal expenses. A federal judge in North Dakota ordered WBI to pay the landowners $380,000 in legal fees, but the 8th Circuit of Appeals overturned that ruling. The property owners have petitioned the Supreme Court to review the appeals court decision. The states have now filed a friend-of-the-court brief, supporting the local landowners.
