Riddleberger v. Chesapeake Western Railway

In this appeal, we are called upon to decide whether Code § 55-154, Acts 1981, c. 518, violates the Constitution of Virginia. That code section and its related provision, Code § 55-155, concern a procedure by which an owner of realty can extinguish mineral rights reservations that encumber the realty.

The Riddlebergers sued to extinguish mineral rights reservations on their land. Chesapeake Western Railway (Chesapeake) filed a demurrer wherein Chesapeake contended that Code § 55-154 violates article IV, section 14(3), of the Constitution of Virginia in that it is a “local, special, or private…