Jeppeson v. State, Dept. of State Lands

This is an appeal from a decision of the District Court of the Twelfth Judicial District, Liberty County, the Honorable B. W. Thomas presiding, denying injunctive and mandamus relief to the appellant, Karl Grant Jeppeson, and granting summary judgment to the respondent, Department of State Lands.

The following facts are taken from the District Court’s findings of fact and are not in dispute.

The State of Montana owns a parcel of grazing land in Liberty County, Montana. The land is now and has been administered by the respondent Department. In 1950, this parcel was leased by the respondent to…