Ellis v. Pauline S. Sprouse Residuary Trust

OPINION

WILLIAM C. KOCH, JR., J.,

delivered the opinion of the court,

in which JANICE M. HOLDER, C.J., WILLIAM M. BARKER, CORNELIA A. CLARK, and GARY R. WADE, JJ., joined.

This appeal involves the exercise of an option to extend a lease that did not specify how or when the option should be exercised. Approximately two and one-half years after the lessee believed he had exercised the option to extend the lease, the lessor sold the property to a third party who was aware that the lessee was actively farming the property. Thereafter, the new owner trespassed on the property and ordered the lessee to…