Linton Coal Co. v. South Cent. Resources

On June 3, 1974, Linton Coal Company, Inc. ("Linton Coal"), leased certain land in Jefferson County to Hallmark Coal Company, Inc. ("Hallmark Coal"), for the express purpose of mining and removing coal. The lease was for an initial term of five years, after which the lessee had the option of extending the lease for additional successive five-year terms "so long as there is recoverable coal remaining in the lands leased hereby."

Hallmark Coal assigned its rights under the lease to Alabama By-Products Corporation ("ABC") on June 14, 1974, and, on June 10, 1983, ABC assigned its rights to Casgar…