SWN Production Company v. Richard A. and Mary D. Long

WALKER, Justice:

Petitioner SWN Production Company, LLC and Respondents Richard and Mary Long are parties to an oil and gas lease that includes an arbitration provision. When Respondents sued Petitioner to recover payments to which they claim to be entitled under the lease and various other damages, Petitioner urged the circuit court to dismiss the case and compel arbitration. Respondents countered that references in other parts of the lease to "any court of competent jurisdiction" or "a civil action" invalidated the arbitration provision. The circuit court agreed. However, we find that the…