East TN Natural Gas v. Sage

Opinion

PUBLISHED

Filed: May 14, 2004

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

JOHN F. SAGE; LINDA K. SAGE, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1708

(CA-02-107-4)

and

1.20 ACRES IN WYTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA; MARY CASEL, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

MARGARET CLANTON, Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1709

CA-02-114-4

and

.28 ACRES IN HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA; LUCY CLARK, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

2 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

SCOTT A. FONTAINE; LILLIE M. FONTAINE, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1710 CA-02-120-4

and

2.09 ACRES IN HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA; LUCY CLARK, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

ALVA HOLLAND, Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1711

CA-02-123-4

and

.54 ACRES IN HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANET M. HOLLAND; LUCY CLARK, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 3

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

MAYNARD R. JOYCE, Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1712

CA-02-125-4

and

2.26 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

ERVIN L. FRAZIER, JR., Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1713

CA-02-126-4

and

1.02 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

4 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

BARBARA G. VASS; DOSSIE G.V. HALL, a/k/a Dossie Shockley Vass, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1714 CA-02-128-4

and

1.59 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 5

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

LAYTON RUSSELL HANCOCK; JOHN WENDELL HANCOCK; SONIA LUCILLE EASTER; UNA FAYE SAUNDERS; WAYNE DWIGHT HANCOCK; HEIRS OF ROYAL EARLY HANCOCK, Defendants-Appellants,

and  No. 03-1715 CA-02-129-4

2.57 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS; JOSEPHINE H. POWERS; RUDOLPH HANCOCK; ALENE SUMNER; JAMES F. HANCOCK; TALFORD CLAY HANCOCK; THOMAS KENNETH HANCOCK; AVERETTE EARLY HANCOCK; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor, Defendants.

6 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

H. WADE BAKER; LOLA W. BAKER, Defendants-Appellants,

and

 No. 03-1716

(CA-02-132-4)

1.91 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

GREGORY L. SEIBERT, Defendant-Appellant,  No. 03-1717 (CA-02-133-4)

and

.45 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 7

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

ROBIN MARIE SEIBERT; GREGORY L. SEIBERT, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1718 (CA-02-134-4)

and

.61 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

HELEN E. MELTON; CHARLOTTE A. EDWARDS, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1719 (CA-02-135-4)

and

JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS; 4.76 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA, Defendants.

8 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

RALPH D. HOWELL; MABEL FULCHER, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1720

(CA-02-138-4)

and

ROSE C. HOWELL; JOHN DOE, et al.; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; UNKNOWN OWNERS; 3.18 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

MELVIN A. THOMAS, Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1721

(CA-02-140-4)

and

1.40 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JOHN DOE, et al.; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 9

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

JOHN M. LEWIS; CORNELIA A. LEWIS, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1722

(CA-02-142-4)

and

C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS; .37 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

EARL R. POTTER; JOAN A. POTTER, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1723

(CA-02-145-4)

and

C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS; .60 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA, Defendants.

10 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

JERRY S. THOMAS; BETTY B. THOMAS, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1724

(CA-02-146-4)

and

3.04 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

NANCY U. STANLEY, Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1725

(CA-02-150-4)

and

3.62 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 11

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

OTRA MARTIN; EDNA LOU MARTIN SMART; ELLEN M. FULCHER; HARVEY GLENN FULCHER, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1726 (CA-02-153-4)

and

3.81 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

ROBERT E. MEADOWS; MARION C. MEADOWS, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1727 (CA-02-155-4)

and

.94 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

12 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

WILLIAM TROY STRICKLAND; SUSAN M. STRICKLAND, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1728 (CA-02-160-4)

and

1.13 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

JAMES A. KEESEE; JOANNE RICHMOND KEESEE, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1729 (CA-02-168-4)

and

1.58 ACRES IN PATRICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA; C. JERRY LOVE, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 13

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

THOMAS C. WILLIAMS, JR.; JEANNIE B. WILLIAMS, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1730 (CA-02-185-4)

and

3.27 ACRES IN WYTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA; MARY CASEL, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

ANISSA J. BRADY, a/k/a Anissa Holland, Defendant-Appellant,  No. 03-1731 (CA-02-197-4)

and

.65 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

14 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

CHARLES K. WEBB; LENA WEBB, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1732

(CA-02-198-4)

and

.64 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

CALVIN HUGH WEBB; LINVOL OSCAR WEBB; WENDELL WAYNE WEBB, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1733 (CA-02-202-4)

and

3.38 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JOHN DOE, et al.; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 15

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

ALVA JACKSON HORTON; HEATH WEBB, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1734 (CA-02-203-4)

and

1.60 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

GEORGE LEWIS WEBB; EDWARD PAUL WEBB; ROGER LEE WEBB; JOEL RAY WEBB, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1735 (CA-02-208-4)

and

.30 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

16 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

DOROTHEA W. BRYANT, Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1736

(CA-02-211-4)

and

1.23 ACRES IN CARROLL COUNTY, VIRGINIA; JANE A. HARRISON, County Assessor; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

CLYDE HOLLAND; SHIRLEY HOLLAND, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1737

(CA-02-212-4)

and

5.2 ACRES IN HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA; LUCY CLARK, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 17

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

L. J. RECTOR; CHARIS JEAN RECTOR; JOHNNY J. RECTOR; JOE RECTOR, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1738 (CA-02-216-4)

and

3.98 ACRES IN SMYTH COUNTY, VIRGINIA; RICHARD WALKER, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

FRED TOLLEY; GUIDA TOLLEY, Defendants-Appellants,

 No. 03-1739

(CA-02-218-4)

and

4.0 ACRES IN WYTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA; MARY CASEL, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

18 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

JAMES FOGELSONG; GLEN STUART FOGELSONG, Defendants-Appellants,  No. 03-1740 (CA-02-221-4)

and

2.64 ACRES IN WYTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA; MARY CASEL, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

WEAVER ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED, Defendant-Appellant,

 No. 03-1741

(CA-02-182-4)

and

11.42 ACRES IN WYTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA; MARY CASEL, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE 19

EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS  COMPANY, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

RONNIE LYNN GOFORTH; SUSAN D. GOFORTH; 3.51 ACRES/WYTHE COUNTY,  No. 03-1797 (CA-02-215-4)

Defendants-Appellants,

and

MARY CASEL, Commissioner of Revenue; JOHN DOE, et al.; UNKNOWN OWNERS, Defendants.



On Petition for Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc

Appellants filed petitions for rehearing and rehearing en banc.

The Panel voted to deny rehearing.

A member of the Court requested a poll on the petition for rehearing en banc. The poll failed to produce a majority of the judges in active service in favor of rehearing en banc. Judge Widener voted to rehear the case en banc, and Judges Niemeyer, Luttig, Michael, Motz, Traxler, Gregory, Shedd and Duncan voted against rehearing en banc. Chief Judge Wilkins and Judges Wilkinson, Williams and King are disqualified.

The Court denies the petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc.

20 EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS v. SAGE Entered at the direction of Judge Michael for the Court.

For the Court,

/s/ Patricia S. Connor

Clerk