• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • TSCRA Partners
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Young Cattle Raisers
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Disaster Relief Fund
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
    • Students and Youth
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Summer Meeting
    • Policy Conference
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Join
  • Member Center
  • TSCRA Store
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Big Oil Versus Texas Landowner in Texas Supreme Court Eminent Domain Fight

Texas Supreme Court hears case with far-reaching implications for Texas landowners

The Supreme Court of Texas just heard oral arguments and is currently considering the case of Terrance J. Hlavinka, et al. v. HSC Pipeline Partnership LLC. The case involves issues with far-reaching implications for Texas landowners. We need every Texas landowner’s support to ensure that all our rights are protected. 

In this critical case, HSC Pipeline Partnership LLC (HSC), a subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Enterprise), is attempting to use eminent domain to acquire a thirty-foot wide easement that covers in excess of 1.76 miles over private farmland in Brazoria County. The land is owned by the hardworking business owners Terrance and Kenneth Hlavinka. 

“We have been in the business of selling the pipeline easements business for a long time. Unfortunately, we are now being forced to defend our constitutional rights to obtain the fair market value other companies have voluntarily paid without filing or threatening a lawsuit in the past. We are simply asking the Texas Supreme Court to protect the rights of Texas landowners and fairly enforce the Constitution by providing adequate and just compensation in cases if an entity has the right to condemn,” said Terry Hlavinka, owner of the Terrance Hlavinka Cattle Company.

In 2016, the Hlavinka family attempted to negotiate a fair market price for the use of their land with Enterprise. This billion-dollar midstream oil and gas company was unwilling to pay fair market value for the easement as other companies (including Dow Chemical and Praxair, Inc.) had paid on the same property, and instead opted to sue the Hlavinka family claiming HSC (Enterprise’s wholly-owned subsidiary) is a common carrier and the line is put to public use. However, the line was built for and is only used by one customer of Enterprise, to carry a product (polymer grade propylene) Enterprise makes and sells to that single customer’s facility. This is not a case involving natural gas or crude oil lines which are constructed to transport oil and gas of several entities to various points, and the case does not involve a product that is refined and consumed across the state and country like natural gas or crude oil.

“We’re not anti-oil and gas. We are completing an oil well on this property as we speak. We’re invested in several forms of energy production. Oil and gas is certainly one of those. Our desire is to get fair and just compensation as provided by the state Constitution,” said Terry Hlavinka in a recent interview for the USA Today Network.

We need your help to stop this billion-dollar oil company from unjustly claiming the right to take the private property of a Texas family who has successfully built this business from the ground up. Please contact your State Representative, State Senators, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Governor Greg Abbott and ask them to defend Texas landowners. You can also voice your support on social media. 

Written by:
Jeremy Fuchs
Published on:
April 22, 2022

Categories: Uncategorized

Recent Posts

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association names new leadership

March 25, 2023

Volunteers elected, appointed during 2023 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo.  Texas & …

Continue Reading about Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association names new leadership

Robertson County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent recognized by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

March 25, 2023

David Groschke recognized as a leader in local beef education.  Today, Texas & …

Continue Reading about Robertson County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent recognized by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

G Bar C Ranch honored as 2023 Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award recipient

March 25, 2023

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association today recognized Meredith Ellis of G Bar C Ranch …

Continue Reading about G Bar C Ranch honored as 2023 Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award recipient

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
TSCRA Partners
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Young Cattle Raisers
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Media Kit
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2023 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE