Fortenberry Drilling Co. v. Mathis

PATTERSON, Chief Justice,

for the Court:

This is an appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court of Wayne County awarding William Mathis $35,000 against Fortenberry Drilling Company, Inc. and Damson Oil Corporation.

Mathis was accidentally injured on January 31, 1977, at an oil well drilling site in Wayne County. Damson Oil Corporation (hereinafter Damson) owned the drilling rights on the land involved and Fortenberry Drilling Company, Inc. (hereinafter Forten-berry) was the owner of the rig and was the drilling contractor. Mathis, the injured party, was an employee of Oil Field Rental Service,…