James Henry v. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC

OPINION

HELENE N. WHITE, Circuit Judge.

Defendant-Appellant Chesapeake Appalachia, L.L.C. (Chesapeake), appeals the district court’s grant of judgment on the pleadings to Plaintiffs James 0. Henry, Peggy S. Henry, Mark A. Henry, Mary Avis Henry, and Charles C. Henry (Plaintiffs), in this declaratory action seeking a judgment that Chesapeake’s oil and gas lease had expired. We REVERSE and REMAND for the entry of judgment in favor of Chesapeake.

I

A. Factual Background

On October 17, 2006, Plaintiffs entered into an oil and gas lease with Fortuna Energy, Inc. (Fortuna), covering approximately 447…