Venoco LLC v. Plains Pipeline LP

I. Background

This case arises out of the May 2015 rupture of Line 901, Plains’ oil pipeline located off the coast of Santa Barbara County, California. Second Amended Complaint, Dkt. # 78 (“SAC”), ¶¶ 1, 18. The rupture resulted in the deposit of more than 140,000 gallons of crude oil onto the California coastline. Id. ¶¶ 18, 20. Line 901 was shut down and has not since resumed operations. Id. ¶ 21; see also Mot. 1:9. Prior to the oil spill, Venoco relied on Line 901 to transport crude oil produced at its offshore “Holly” platform to onshore contactors. SAC ¶¶ 10–11. The spill left Venoco unable to produce or sell crude oil from the Holly platform. Id. ¶ 14. In 2016, Venoco sued Plains in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, and Plains removed the case to this Court, invoking the Court’s federal question and supplemental jurisdiction. See generally Dkts. # 1, 1-1. The Court granted in part and denied in part Plains’ first motion to dismiss, allowing Venoco’s negligence, willful misconduct, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage claims to proceed. See generally Dkt. # 71 (“MTD I Order”). The Court dismissed with leave to amend Venoco’s claims…