Alford v. Collins-McGregor Operating Co. (Slip Opinion)

*384 *303 I. Introduction

{¶ 1} Appellants, Linda Griffith Alford, George Alford Jr., Bershelle Alford Giambattista, Joseph Alford, Judith Hanlon Farnsworth, Donna R. Hanlon, and James C. Eutzler (collectively, the "landowners"), sued appellees, Collins-McGregor Operating Company and Winston Oil Company (collectively, "Collins-McGregor"), seeking the partial termination of an oil and gas lease. The trial court granted Collins-McGregor's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and the Fourth District Court of Appeals affirmed.

{¶ 2} This appeal requires us to consider whether the landowners'…