Plateau Mining Co. v. Utah Division of State Lands & Forestry

STEWART, Justice:

The plaintiffs in this consolidated case, four mining companies, brought actions for declaratory judgments against the Utah Division of State Lands and Forestry (the “State”) for an adjudication of their liability under the royalty provisions of certain coal leases. The State appeals summary judgments in favor of the four mining companies.

I. FACTS

The issues in each of these consolidated cases arise out of the same standard lease form. The leased land is school trust land. A brief explanation of the nature of school trust lands provides a background for the application of the…