Shell Oil Co. v. Cavanaugh

SMITH, Justice:

Charles W. Cavanaugh filed his declaration in the Circuit Court of Jefferson Davis County demanding damages of Shell Oil Company for the alleged destruction of a number of small trees and injury to the *2dam of a catfish pond as the result of seismographic exploration conducted on his land by Shell. From a judgment entered pursuant to a jury verdict awarding Cav-anaugh $4,000, Shell Oil Company appeals.

In August, 1971, Cavanaugh executed a mineral lease of his lands to Shell Oil Company, granting it, among other things, the right to explore for oil, gas, sulphur and other…