Dehring v. Northern Mich. Exploration Co., Inc.

Plaintiffs sued to rescind an oil and gas lease. After plaintiffs put in their proofs, the trial court, sitting without a jury, granted defendant’s motion for a directed verdict. * 1 Plaintiffs appeal as of right.

Plaintiffs own as tenants in common a 120-acre parcel of land in Belknap Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan. The land was deeded to plaintiffs by their mother on May 2, 1977. The life estate she retained ended at her death on May 9, 1977. On July 19, 1977, plaintiffs Celia Smigelski, Raymond Dehring, and Virginia Veto signed a 5-year lease granting defendant the right to explore…