Background

1. RCB Bank v. Stitt, 2022 OK CIV APP 3, ¶38: Race/Notice Interpretation -- “We agree with the ‘general consensus among Oklahoma practitioners,’ that by statute and case law Oklahoma has adopted the ‘race/notice’ version of the Recording Act (16 O.S. 2011 §§15 and 16), to determine priority issues between competing claimants. Kraettli Q. Epperson, Have Judgment Lien Creditors Become ‘Bona Fide Purchasers’? 68 Okla. B.J. 61, 1061 (1997).” 

2. In the Matter of the Estate of Hyer, 2020 OK CIV APP 31, FN 6: Marital Homestead Conveyance Signatures -- “See Marital Homestead Rights Protection: Impact of Hill v. Discover Card? Kraettli Q. Epperson, 80 Okla. B.J. 2409 (2009)” 

3. Logan County Conservation District v. Pleasant Oaks Homeowners Association, 2016 OK 65, ¶14: Easement Definition -- “See also Kraettli Q. Epperson, 5A Vernons Oklahoma Forms 2d, Real Estate 4.100 (2 ed. 2015)" 

Since 2020, he has filed an expert report/affidavit, has been deposed, and/or has testified at trial in the following cases:

• 2021: Acted as expert for Lazy S. Ranch Properties, LLC (provided deposition testimony regarding whether a specific recorded instrument ran with the land); Lazy S. Ranch, LLC v. BKEP Pipeline, LLC, Case No. CJ-2019-106, District Court of Carter County, State of Oklahoma.

• 2022: Acted as expert for Lisa Feagins (provided expert report regarding whether a recorded utility easement in a set of restrictions was properly vacated); Lisa Feagins v. Stephen Wolff and Bailey Wolff, Case No. CV-2020-01475, District Court of Tulsa County, Oklahoma.

• 2024: Acted as expert for Southern Resources (provided expert affidavit regarding whether an unfiled probate decree provided a link in 30-year chain for a marketable title); Reid v. Southern Resources, Case No. CJ-2022-006, District Court of Hughes County, State of Oklahoma.

• 2024: Acted as expert for Shires and Beavers (provided expert report regarding how to interpret the language of a mineral deed as to the quantity of mineral acres conveyed); Shires and Beavers v. Echo, Case No. CV-2019-125, District Court of Grady County, State of Oklahoma.

Additional Expert Engagement:

• 2015:  Acted as expert for Martin Peters, Jr. and Tammy Lynn Peters, title holder (filed expert affidavit regarding interpretation of oil and gas conveyances, establishing Peters’ bona fide purchaser status—case decided due to passage of 5-year SOL to reform deed); Steven Boyd Scott v. Martin Peters, Jr. and Tammy Lynn Peters, Case No. CJ-2014-424, District Court of Canadian County, Oklahoma.

• Mr. Epperson served as the Chairman of the Oklahoma Title Examination Standards Committee for over thirty (30) years from 1988 to 2020. He continues to be an active member of that Committee.

• He drafted the text materials for and taught a law school course titled “Oklahoma Land Titles” from 1982 to 2018, at the Oklahoma City University School of Law as an adjunct law professor.

• In addition to his private practice, other relevant past and current activities include:

1. serving as the Chair of the joint Oklahoma Land Titles Association and Oklahoma Bar Association Real Property Section Committee on the Revision of the Abstractor’s Certificate (1982-1983);

2. preparing the materials for and teaching the Oklahoma Bar Review Course for Real Property (1998 and multiple years);

3. updating Basye on Clearing Land Titles; author:  Pocket Part Update (1998 - 2001); contributing author: Pocket Part Update (2002 - 2015);

4. being the initial and continuing general editor and a contributing author for the West/Vernon’s 2d Oklahoma Real Estate Forms book, since its inception in 2000 to the present; and

5. writing, and then publishing and presenting many papers on title issues concerning surface and oil and gas issues, including multiple articles in the Oklahoma Bar Association Bar Journal (over 25 articles published in the OBJ)

• Martindale-Hubbell--AV Rating

• Best Lawyers

• Oklahoma Super Lawyers List

• 405 Magazine

• The American Registry

• Finance Monthly--Real Property

• Okla. Bar Association: 1997 Maurice Merrill Golden Quill Award

• Okla. Bar Association: 1990 Earl Sneed Continuing Lega Education Award

• Okla. Bar Association: 1990 Golden Gavel Award 

• OBA Award: Title Examination Standards Committee (Chair)