Berentz v. Belmont Oil Mining Co.

This is an action to foreclose liens of laborers employed in sinking an oil-well. The defendant the Belmont Oil Company owned the south half of a certain quarter-section of land in Kern County known as the “Baradino Placer Mining Claim.” The land was leased to its co-defendant, the Kern King Oil and Development Company, and that company had contracted with the defendants Martin and Berry for its development by sinking one or more oil-wells thereon. The contract between the Kern King Company and Martin and Berry was in writing, but was not recorded. Plaintiff and his assignors were employed by…