EXHIBIT 5.1
GALLOP, JOHNSON & NEUMAN, L.C.
101 S. Hanley
St. Louis, Missouri 63105
September 26, 2000
Board of Directors
Maverick Tube Corporation
16401 Swingley Ridge Road, Seventh Floor
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 -
Amended and Restated Prudential Steel Ltd. Stock Option Plan
Gentlemen:
We have served as counsel to Maverick Tube Corporation (the "Company")
in connection with the various legal matters relating to the filing of a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Rules and Regulations promulgated
thereunder, relating to 694,191 shares of common stock of the Company, par value
$.01 per share (the "Shares"), reserved for issuance in accordance with the
Amended and Restated Prudential Steel Ltd. Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").
We have examined such corporate records of the Company, such laws and
such other information as we have deemed relevant, including the Company's
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and
Restated Bylaws, as amended, certain resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company relating to the Plan and certificates received from
state officials and from officers of the Company. In delivering this opinion, we
have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all
documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic or conformed copies, and the
correctness of all statements submitted to us by officers of the Company.
Based upon the foregoing, the undersigned is of the opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2. The Shares being offered by the Company, if issued in accordance
with the Plan, will be validly issued and outstanding and will be
fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the use of our name in the Registration Statement. We also
consent to your filing copies of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement with agencies of such states as you deem necessary in the course of
complying with the laws of such states regarding the issuance of the Shares
pursuant to the Plan.
Very truly yours,
/s/ GALLOP, JOHNSON & NEUMAN, L.C.
GALLOP, JOHNSON & NEUMAN, L.C.
