P. G. Lake v. J. M. Sheffield

This is an action for breach of a contract. Plaintiffs, J. M. Sheffield, Jack D. Sheffield, and Lola Browning, brought suit against defendant, P. G. Lake, Inc., alleging that on or about July 11, 1958, they executed an oil and gas lease to Pan American Petroleum Corporation covering a 41.7 acre tract of land situated in Hopkins County, Texas; that said lease was subsequently assigned to defendant, P. G. Lake, Inc., who entered upon the land for the purpose of drilling an oil well on May 12, 1967. Plaintiffs alleged that prior to the entry, they entered into an oral agreement with the defendant whereby it was agreed that in the event the well was dry, defendant would, as soon as the drilling rig was moved out, remove all clay from roadway and location used for drilling the well, and would fill and level the pits and re-seed the area with grass. They further alleged that in preparation for the drilling of the well, defendant built a two-foot elevated clay road across plaintiffs land for a distance of 900 feet in length and 24 feet in width and also constructed several clay slush pits five to six feet deep. It was also alleged that the defendant placed a large amount of clay in and around the well site; that when the well was found to be dry, defendant moved off the premises without restoring the same as it promised to do; that although requested to do so, defendant refused to restore the premises as promised. The prayer was for the reasonable cost of repairs in the amount of $4,200.00.