Gloria's Ranch, L.L.C. v. Tauren Exploration, Inc., Cubic Energy, Inc., Wells Fargo Energy Capital, Inc., and Exco USA Asset, Inc.

Clark, Justice*

A landowner brought suit against several mineral lessees for breach of the obligations of the mineral lease. The mortgagee of one of the lessees was also named as a defendant. The lower courts held all lessees and the mortgagee solidarily liable for damages resulting from the failure to furnish a recordable act evidencing the expiration of the lease, i.e. , failure to release the lease. We granted these consolidated writ applications to determine (1) whether the mortgagee was properly held solidarily liable as an "owner" of the lease under La. Mineral Code art. 207 and a…