Roeder Mining, Inc. v. Johnson

This case involves a dispute over a mining contract. The dispositive issue raised on appeal is whether the contract is ambiguous. For reasons discussed below, we affirm the district court’s interpretation of the contract.

The facts are as follows. Robert E. Johnson and Roeder Mining, Inc. entered into a seven-year lease. The lease agreement granted Roeder Mining the right to mine Johnson’s land for gold and other precious minerals in return for certain royalties. The agreement also provided that the mining company was to receive an expense allowance from the land owner for “material mined.” In…