CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A justice on West Virginia's highest court has issued a blistering rebuke to the other four jurists who ruled that natural gas companies can deduct post-production costs from the royalties paid to landowners for mineral rights.

Justice Robin Jean Davis' dissent, released Monday, says there was no basis in law for the court even to grant a rehearing to Pittsburgh-based EQT Production Co. or reverse the court's November ruling against deductions.

The Supreme Court's 4-1 decision Friday was written by Chief Justice Allen Loughry with Justices Menis Ketchum and recently el...