Cornwell v. Jespersen

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Schroeder, C.J.:

This is an action by Rick, Joe, Jack and June Cornwell and Martha Cornwell Riddell (plaintiffs-appellees) against Jerry Jespersen, and Rig J. Production Co., Inc., (defendants-appellants) for damages to the plaintiffs’ crops and land alleged to have resulted from the defendants’ oil drilling activities on their land. The trial court held that the plaintiffs could maintain an action against the defendants as they were third party beneficiaries to the drilling contract between defendants and plaintiffs’ lessee. The court awarded actual…