Rickelton v. Universal Constructors, Inc.

OPINION

FEDERICI, Justice.

Plaintiffs-appellees Rickelton, et al. (Rickelton), pursuant to § 7-8-68, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl. 1974), initiated a contest before the defendant Commissioner of Public Lands (Commissioner), asking that the Commissioner cancel certain sand and gravel leases issued to the defendant Universal Constructors, Inc. (Universal). The sand and gravel leases covered the same state trust lands previously conveyed to the plaintiffs by land patent. The patent reserved to the grantor (State of New Mexico) “all of the minerals of whatsoever kind, including oil and gas,” together with…