Richard Eric King, a rancher and small business entrepreneur from Santa Paula, California, has filed a lawsuit against several corporate entities for alleged misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment. The complaint was lodged on March 21, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, naming California Well Services, Inc., CA Well Services LLC, CalNRG Management Holdings LLC, CalNRG Operating LLC, and other unnamed defendants as responsible parties.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on December 21, 2021. Richard Eric King claims that a large work-over rig entered his property without authorization. This rig was allegedly operated by California Well Services (CWS) under the guise of not working for the easement holder at the time, CRPC (California Resources Production Corporation). According to King’s complaint, he had previously granted CRPC easements to use access roads on his property for servicing oil and gas facilities. However, he alleges that CWS misrepresented their association with CRPC during this incident.
King asserts that he was deceived into believing the work-over rig had no right to be on his property because CWS supervisor Johnny Zupon claimed they were not working for CRPC. King further states that when he sought clarification from Blain Meith of CalNRG Operating LLC regarding the purpose of the rig's presence on his land, he received assurances of documentation which never materialized. As a result of these alleged misrepresentations and subsequent legal actions taken by California Natural Resources Group LLC against him for changing gate codes to prevent unauthorized access to his property, King incurred significant legal expenses.
In addition to intentional misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation claims against CWS and associated entities, King accuses all defendants of fraudulent concealment. He argues that these companies failed to disclose critical information about their operations on his land and their contractual relationships with each other. Specifically, it wasn't until after depositions in March 2022 that King discovered through discovery requests documents such as the "Contract Operator Services Agreement" between CalNRG Operating and CRPC which detailed their operational roles concerning King's property.
King is seeking compensatory damages for financial losses incurred due to these alleged tortious acts. He also demands attorneys' fees under California's "tort of another" doctrine because defending himself against lawsuits stemming from this incident required him to protect his interests legally. Furthermore, he seeks punitive damages aimed at deterring similar conduct by these corporations in future dealings with property owners like himself.
Representing Richard Eric King are attorneys Basil S. Shiber (Bar No:144260), Brian D Shaffer (Bar No:257971), Nicholas E Ma (Bar No:305671) from Miller Starr Regalia located at Walnut Creek CA 94596; while presiding over this matter is Judge Mark Borrell under Case ID:2O2S5SCUFRO4A0939.