A former top state oil regulator can proceed with retaliation claims in a lawsuit in which he says he was forced out by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration for objecting to orders that he implement a law that was about to be placed on hold because of an industry-funded voter referendum.
Former State Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk alleges in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit brought in September 2023 that he was forced to resign a little more than a week after filing a whistleblower complaint with the state Department of Conservation that also raised concerns about the legality of a plan to halt all new drilling permits statewide without the proper authority.
Judge Gail Killefer heard arguments on the Attorney General’s Office’s dismissal motion Friday, took the case under submission and issued her final ruling Tuesday. The judge did dismiss Ntuk’s causes of action for wrongful and constructive termination as well as whistleblower protection and state Labor Code violations.
Ntuk is a former engineer with Chevron whose oil-field moratoriums and other actions drew strong criticism from oil and gas producers. The suit deals with Senate Bill 1137, which was signed into law by Newsom and became effective in January 2023. The law bans drilling within 3,200 feet of a home, school or other gathering place, unless the work is intended to maintain existing production.
The oil industry later obtained enough names to put the referendum before the voters, despite opposition from environmental groups. Despite the state’s near-certain verification of the referendum, Ntuk was told by Newsom’s office to continue implementing SB 1137 even after the referendum qualified for last November’s ballot, the suit states.
Ntuk believed he did not have the legal or constitutional authority to abide by the administration’s order and believed it was illegal, the suit states.
After dedicating more than $25 million toward canvassing and political ads, the oil and gas industry withdrew its referendum from the November ballot.