Oklahoma v. Texas

Background

A group of people claiming money from a fund in the hands of a court-appointed Receiver (including J. R. Armstrong and others) sought payment from proceeds tied to the Receiver’s wells numbered 157, 162, and 170. The Court received a written report from Frederick S. Tyler, the Special Master, who reviewed the competing claims and mailed copies of his report to counsel for the claimants. No exceptions or objections to that report were filed, and the matter returned to the Court for final action.

Reasoning

Because no objections were presented, the Court approved the Special Master’s report and authorized the Receiver to distribute the fund to the named claimants in the amounts listed in the report. The Court specified that each award bears interest at three percent per year beginning December 1, 1920. The Court also ordered that $1,048.38 be paid to Frederick S. Tyler for his services and expenses as Special Master, and that this sum be deducted pro rata from the awards to the claimants.

Real world impact

As a practical result, the named claimants will receive the funds specified in the report with three percent interest from the stated date, and the Special Master will be paid his fee from the same pool. The Court further made clear that payment and acceptance of those awards will operate as a release and discharge of the Receiver for claims on the distributed fund, concluding the Receiver’s liability for those amounts.