Germer v. Donaldson

DAVIS, Circuit Judge.

Otto Germer and Edward G. Germer owned a large number of “wild cat” oil and gas leases in undeveloped territory in West Virginia. These leases had been secured in the first place by John F. Donaldson on a number of farms in West Virginia and the title to them taken in his name. Among them was a lease on the Crites farm for a term of 25 years. Associated with him in the enterprise were the Germers. Donaldson was to have a one-third interest in the leases, and the Germers the other two-thirds. In contemplation of a sale of the leases to the Philadelphia Company of West…