Sherwin v. Ault

Plaintiffs Joan M. Sherwin and Richard S. Murphy are owners of farmland situated primarily in Warren County, Illinois. During the 1987 crop year, defendant George L. Ault farmed the land pursuant to a written “operating agreement” drafted by Sherwin, an attorney, and signed by her and Ault on February 12, 1987. The six-page document extensively details the parties’ rights and responsibilities and recites in relevant part as follows:

“Term The term of this agreement shall be from March 1, 1987, to December 31, 1987, or such time as the crop grown on the Farm is completely harvested and either…