BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Four North Dakota ranchers received the support of 12 attorneys general in their lawsuit against WBI Energy.

The lawsuit originated from a 2018 dispute when WBI, a pipeline company, used the Natural Gas Act to exercise eminent domain on several ranches in McKenzie County. The ranchers, led by Leonard Hoffmann, sued, arguing they were not compensated fairly for the land.

The dispute was ultimately settled in a confidential settlement; however, the ranchers were only reimbursed for the land itself and not for legal fees from the court fight. North Dakota state law would require WBI to reimburse legal fees; the company argues that North Dakota law does not apply because the suit was fought in federal court.

A US district court in North Dakota ruled in favor of Hoffma

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