Patterson v. United Natural Gas Co.
Patterson v. United Natural Gas Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
It is quite manifest that the one and only purpose of the proceeding was to obtain a decree cancelling the several leases under which the defendant holds these premises, on the ground of forfeiture, to the end that the right of entry might be regained by the appellants. It is true that the parties stand toward each other in a two-fold relation with respect to the premises which are the subject of the controversy; by virtue of the leases they stand in the relation of landlord and tenant; by virtue of a
Reference
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- Patterson v. United Natural Gas Company
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- Syllabus
- Equity — Jurisdiction—Adequate remedy at law — Forfeiture of oil and gas lease — Landlord cmd tenant. 1. A bill in equity is properly dismissed, where it appears that plaintiffs by virtue of certain oil and gas leases stood towards the defendant in the relation of a landlord, and by virtue of a later deed to a predecessor in title of the defendant in the relation of a tenant in common with him of an undivided one-half interest in the leased premises, and that the only purpose of the suit was to obtain a decree cancellingrthe leases on the ground of forfeiture for violating covenants therein. The remedy of the plaintifE is by a common law action of ejectment. 2. In such a case the relation of the parties to each other as tenants in common, is wholly irrelevant matter, without bearing, even remote, on the issue. 3. Where a lessee acquires, after the date of the lease, an undivided one-half interest in the leased premises, the lease does not, by mere operation of law, merge in the fee subsequently obtained. '