Monfort v. Layton

Foth, J.:

This is an action for salt water damage to plaintiffs’ crops caused by oil drilling operations on plaintiffs’ Allen county land. The action was based on a 1964 letter from defendants setting forth the agreed method for determining plaintiffs’ loss each year and agreeing to pay it; the action was not based on any claim of negligence in defendants’ operations as lessees. The trial court awarded damages for each year until the underlying lease expired in 1974. Plaintiffs have appealed, complaining about the amount of damages awarded for two of the years involved, and also contending…