Shelton v. Taylor

DICKENSON, Justice.

The controlling question is whether a 1948 oil and gas lease terminated when production ceased for more than 30 days in 1972. It was stipulated that the lease and the term royalty interests were extended through 1971 by production, and there is evidence of continuous production from June of 1972 through the date of trial.

Plaintiffs, Lee Shelton and wife, Erma Shelton, sued all of the parties who owned or claimed any interest in the lease and the owners of term royalty interests, seeking a judgment declaring that the lease had terminated and other relief. Following a trial…