Hobbs v. Alcoa, Inc.

The Hobbs family (collectively, “the Hobbses”) and Alcoa, Inc. (“Alcoa”) entered into a settlement agreement in connection with a prior permit application proceeding. Two provisions of the settlement agreement are relevant on appeal. First, Alcoa agreed to grant the Hobbses a permanent easement across its land to a county road, and further agreed to bulldoze and blade the easement, build a gate where the easement joined the county road, and place a cattle guard at the gate. Second, Alcoa agreed to “use its best efforts” to acquire an adjacent tract of land from the City Public Services…