ACCEPTED 08-24-00347-CV EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS 08-24-00347-CV EL PASO, TEXAS 10/30/2024 1:23 PM ELIZABETH G. FLORES CLERK NO. 08-24-00347-CV __________________________________________________________________ FILED IN IN THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS8th COURT OF APPEALS EL PASO, TEXAS 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM EL PASO, TEXAS ELIZABETH G. FLORES _________________________________________________________________ Clerk SRO LAND & MINERALS, LP; MONROE PROPERTIES, INC.; MES LAND & MINERALS, LP; BARRY COATES ROBERTS AND GEORGE L.

STIEREN, AS TRUSTEES OF COATES ENERGY TRUST, JENNY ROBERTS SCHIMPFF TRUST, CATHERINE G. ROBERTS TRUST, BARRY COATES ROBERTS TRUST, LISA STIEREN HARDEMAN TRUST, GEORGE L. STIEREN TRUST, WENDY STIEREN WIRTH TRUST, KELLY STIEREN DANIELL TRUST AND AMY E. STIEREN TRUST, COLLECTIVELY “COATES ENERGY”; THE ALLAR COMPANY, A TEXAS CORPORATION; AND MARY ROSE SIEVERS ALONZI AND LUCY ANNETTE SIEVERS, AS TRUSTEES OF LUCY H.

SIEVERS TRUST, Appellants, v. BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY, Appellees _________________________________________________________________ Appeal from Cause No. 21-04-23946-CVR 143rd District Court of Reeves County, Texas __________________________________________________________________ APPELLANTS’ RESPONSE TO COURT’S ORDER OF OCTOBER 11, 2024 John F. Carroll SBN 03888100 Attorney at Law 1802 Blanco Road San Antonio, Texas 78212 Telephone: (210) 223-2627 Facsimile: (210) 223-5052 [email protected] Co-Counsel for Appellants, TO THE HONORABLE JUSTICES OF THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS: NOW COME Appellants, SRO Land & Minerals, LP; Monroe Properties, Inc.; MES Land & Minerals, LP; Barry Coates Roberts and George L. Stieren, as Trustees of Coates Energy Trust, Jenny Roberts Schimpff Trust, Catherine G.

Roberts Trust, Barry Coates Roberts Trust, Lisa Stieren Hardeman Trust, George L.

Stieren Trust, Wendy Stieren Wirth Trust, Kelly Stieren Daniell Trust and Amy E.

Stieren Trust, collectively “Coates Energy”; The Allar Company, a Texas corporation; and Mary Rose Sievers Alonzi and Lucy Annette Sievers, as Trustees of Lucy H. Sievers Trust, and file this to the Order of the Court of Appeals dated October 11, 2024 as follows: 1. On October 11, 2024, this Court entered an order directing Appellants to file a Motion in conformity with Tex. R. App. P. 26.3 requesting an extension of time to file notice of appeal and provide a reasonable explanation for the late filing of the notice of appeal on or before October 31, 2024 2. Appellants would respectfully show that the notice of appeal filed in this case was timely under Tex. R. App. P. 26.1 and was filed in conformity with Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(a).

3. The Final Judgment which is the subject of the appeal in this case was signed on August 30, 2024. Copy of Final Judgment attached as Exhibit “A”. The deadline to file a notice of appeal was September 29, 2024. Tex. R. App. P. 26.1.

Appellants filed their Notice of Appeal on September 13, 2024. File marked copy of Notice of Appeal attached as Exhibit “B”. The Notice of Appeal was filed with the Reeves County District Clerk as required under Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(a). The Notice of Appeal included all the information required under Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(d).

4. Appellants respectfully request that the Court find that notice of appeal was timely filed in the district court on September 13, 2024, thereby invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(b), and that this Court permit the appeal to proceed. Appellants will pursue this appeal with diligence.

WHEREFORE, Appellants respectfully request that the Court permit this appeal to proceed.

Respectfully Submitted, GRAVES, DOUGHERTY, HEARON & MOODY, P.C.

401 Congress Avenue, Suite 2700 Austin, Texas 78701 Tel: (512) 480-5623 Fax: (512) 480-5823 /s/ John McFarland John McFarland State Bar No. 13598500 [email protected] Marianne W. Nitsch State Bar No. 24098182 [email protected] ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS SRO LAND & MINERALS, LP, MONROE PROPERTIES, INC., AND MES LAND & MINERALS, LP

/s/ John F. Carroll John F. Carroll State Bar No. 03888100 Attorney at Law 1802 Blanco Road San Antonio, Texas 78212 Telephone: (210) 223-2627 Facsimile: (210) 223-5052 [email protected] ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANTS COATES ENERGY AND THE ALLAR COMPANY /s/ Sean M. Guerrero Sean M. Guerrero State Bar No. 24032378 Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughline & Browder, Inc. W. Texas Avenue, Suite 800 Midland, Texas 79701 Telephone: (432) 682-1616 Facsimile: (432) 682-4884 [email protected] ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS MARY ROSE SIEVERS ALONZI AND LUCY ANNETTE SIEVERS, AS TRUSTEES OF LUCY H. SIEVERS TRUST

VERIFICATION

My name ‫؛‬s John F. Cairoll. I am one of the attorneys for Appei!ants. 1 have read the foregoing Response to Court Order of October 11, 2024 and state that all of the facts set forth therein are within my personal knowledge and are true and correct. I am familiar with the district court filings In this case and Exhibits “A and ،،B‫ ’؛‬are true and coi'rect copies of the 01'lglnal documents.

<41^4 u.

John F. Carroll

SWORN TO AND SUBSCRJBED before me, the undersigned authority by the said John F. Carroll on the 30'h day of October,

‫ء‬:«:r‫يجتإبذًاا‬ II Nota^ Public, State of Taxas ISABELLA CUKJATI Comm. Ехр.гва./сГоЗ-гог?

2024^ (Ir Notary Public In and for the State of Texas

CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE

I certify that a copy of the foregoing was delivered to all counsel listed below by e-servlce on the 30‫ لاا‬day of October 2024.

Samuel Stennis [email protected] COTTON, BLEDSOE, TIGFIE & DAWSON, P.C.

500 w. Illinois Ave, Ste. 300 Midland, Texas 79701 Don R. White Dorwin L. Sargent, III [email protected] HAYES, BERRY, WHITE, & VANZANT, LLP West Hickory, Suite 100 Denton, Texas 76201 ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY

/s/ John F. Carroll John F. Carroll

EXHIBIT “A” Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.

The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

Envelope ID: 91689436 Filing Code Description: Notice Filing Description: FINAL JUDGMENT Status as of 9/5/2024 2:47 PM CST Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status John McFarland [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Dorwin Sargent [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Don White [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Nancy Karnes [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Lucas Holl 24078677 [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Jordan Irons 24101955 [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Marianne Nitsch [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Sean Guerrero [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Christopher Stoltz [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Julie AThomas [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM ERROR Michelle Carrasco [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Rebecca Linehan [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT John F.Carroll [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Samuel Stennis [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Shana O'Neal [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Rosie Ramos [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT Jordan Irons [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT SAMUEL JSTENNIS [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT CHRISTOPHER CCYRUS [email protected] 9/5/2024 2:38:47 PM SENT EXHIBIT “B” 9/13/2024 10:06 am Julia Perez DistrictClerk Reeves County, Texas Misty Thomas CAUSE NO. 21-04-23946-CVR

SRO LAND & MINERALS, LP, § IN THE DISTRICT COURT MONROE PROPERTIES, INC., MES § LAND & MINERALS, LP, BARRY § COATES ROBERTS AND GEORGE L. § STIEREN, AS TRUSTEES OF COATES § ENERGY TRUST, JENNY ROBERTS § SCHIMPFF TRUST, CATHERINE G. § ROBERTS TRUST, BARRY COATES § ROBERTS TRUST, LISA STIEREN § HARDEMAN TRUST, GEORGE L. § STIEREN TRUST, WENDY STIEREN § WIRTH TRUST, KELLY STIEREN § 143rd JUDICIAL DISTRICT DANIELL TRUST AND AMY E. § STIEREN TRUST, THE ALLAR § COMPANY, A Texas corporation, and § MARY ROSE SIEVERS ALONZI AND § LUCY ANNETTE SIEVERS, AS § TRUSTEES OF LUCY H. § SIEVERS TRUST § Plaintiffs, § § vs. § § BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY § Defendants. § REEVES COUNTY, TEXAS NOTICE OF APPEAL Plaintiffs file this Notice of Appeal as follows: 1. The trial court is the 143rd District Court of Reeves County. The case’s trial court number is 21-04-23946-CVR. The style of the case in the trial court is: SRO Land & Minerals, LP; Monroe Properties, Inc.; MES Land & Minerals, LP; Barry Coates Roberts and George L. Stieren, as Trustees of Coates Energy Trust, Jenny Roberts Schimpff Trust, Catherine G. Roberts Trust, Barry Coates Roberts Trust, Lisa Stieren Hardeman Trust, George L. Stieren Trust, Wendy Stieren Wirth Trust, Kelly Stieren Daniell Trust and Amy E. Stieren Trust, collectively “Coates Energy”; The Allar Company, a Texas corporation; and Mary Rose Sievers Alonzi and Lucy Annette Sievers, as Trustees of Lucy H. Sievers Trust, Plaintiffs v. BNSF Railway Company, Defendant. Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(d)(1).

2. The date of the Final Judgment appealed from is August 30, 2024. Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(d)(2).

3. Plaintiffs desire to appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(d)(3).

4. The appeal is taken to the Eighth Court of Appeals. Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(d)(4).

5. The parties filing this notice are: SRO Land & Minerals, LP; Monroe Properties, Inc.; MES Land & Minerals, LP; Barry Coates Roberts and George L. Stieren, as Trustees of Coates Energy Trust, Jenny Roberts Schimpff Trust, Catherine G. Roberts Trust, Barry Coates Roberts Trust, Lisa Stieren Hardeman Trust, George L. Stieren Trust, Wendy Stieren Wirth Trust, Kelly Stieren Daniell Trust and Amy E. Stieren Trust, collectively “Coates Energy”; The Allar Company, a Texas corporation; and Mary Rose Sievers Alonzi and Lucy Annette Sievers, as Trustees of Lucy H. Sievers Trust, Plaintiffs.

Tex. R. App. P. 25.1(d)(5).

Respectfully submitted,

GRAVES, DOUGHERTY, HEARON & MOODY, P.C.

401 Congress Avenue, Suite 2700 Austin, Texas 78701 Tel: (512) 480-5623 Fax: (512) 480-5823 /s/ John McFarland John McFarland State Bar No. 13598500 [email protected] Marianne W. Nitsch State Bar No. [email protected] ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS SRO LAND & MINERALS, LP, MONROE PROPERTIES, INC., AND MES LAND & MINERALS, LP

/s/ John F. Carroll John F. Carroll State Bar No. 03888100 Attorney at Law 1802 Blanco Road San Antonio, Texas 78212 Telephone: (210) 223-2627 Facsimile: (210) 223-5052 [email protected] ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS COATES ENERGY AND THE ALLAR COMPANY /s/ Sean M. Guerrero Sean M. Guerrero State Bar No. 24032378 Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughline & Browder, Inc. W. Texas Avenue, Suite 800 Midland, Texas 79701 Telephone: (432) 682-1616 Facsimile: (432) 682-4884 [email protected]

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS MARY ROSE SIEVERS ALONZI AND LUCY ANNETTE SIEVERS, AS TRUSTEES OF LUCY H. SIEVERS TRUST CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE I certify that a copy of the foregoing was delivered to all counsel listed below by e- service on the 13th day of September 2021.

Samuel Stennis [email protected] COTTON, BLEDSOE, TIGHE & DAWSON, P.C.

500 W. Illinois Ave, Ste. 300 Midland, Texas 79701 Don R. White Dorwin L. Sargent, III [email protected] HAYES, BERRY, WHITE, & VANZANT, LLP West Hickory, Suite 100 Denton, Texas 76201 ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY

/s/ John F. Carroll John F. Carroll

Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.

The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

John Carroll on behalf of John Carroll Bar No. 3888100 [email protected] Envelope ID: 91988784 Filing Code Description: Notice Of Appeal Filing Description: Notice of Appeal for All Plaintiffs Status as of 9/13/2024 10:50 AM CST Case Contacts Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status John McFarland [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Don White [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Nancy Karnes [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Lucas Holl 24078677 [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Jordan Irons 24101955 [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Marianne Nitsch [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Sean Guerrero [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Christopher Stoltz [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT John F.Carroll [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Julie AThomas [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM ERROR Michelle Carrasco [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Rebecca Linehan [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Dorwin Sargent [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM ERROR Samuel Stennis [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Shana O'Neal [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Rosie Ramos [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT Jordan Irons [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT SAMUEL JSTENNIS [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM SENT CHRISTOPHER CCYRUS [email protected] 9/13/2024 10:06:02 AM ERROR Automated Certificate of eService This automated certificate of service was created by the efiling system.

The filer served this document via email generated by the efiling system on the date and to the persons listed below. The rules governing certificates of service have not changed. Filers must still provide a certificate of service that complies with all applicable rules.

John Carroll on behalf of John Carroll Bar No. 3888100 [email protected] Envelope ID: 93748653 Filing Code Description: Other Document Filing Description: Response to Court's Order of October 11, 2024 Status as of 10/31/2024 3:20 PM MST Associated Case Party: Barry Coates Roberts and George L. Stieren, as Trustees of Coates Energy Trust, Jenny Roberts Schimpff Trust, Catherine G. Roberts Trust, Barry Coates Roberts Trust, Lisa Stieren Hardeman Trust, George L. Stieren Trust, Wendy Stieren Wirth Trust, Kelly Stieren Daniell Trust and Amy E. Stieren Trust Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status John FinbarCarroll [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM SENT

Associated Case Party: BNSF Railway Company Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Sam Stennis [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM SENT Don R.White [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM SENT Shana O'Neal [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM SENT Rosie Ramos [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM SENT Dorwin L.Sargent [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM ERROR

Associated Case Party: Mary Rose Sievers Alonzi and Lucy Annette Sievers, as Trustees of Lucy H. Sievers Trust Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status Sean M.Guerrero [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM SENT

Associated Case Party: SRO Land & Minerals, LP Name BarNumber Email TimestampSubmitted Status John McFarland [email protected] 10/30/2024 1:23:45 PM SENT