Patrick A. McKenna v. Floyd A. Wallis and Pan American Petroleum Corporation, Pan American Petroleum Corporation v. Floyd A. Wallis

366 F.2d 210, 25 Oil & Gas Rep. 143, 1966 U.S. App. LEXIS 5093

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: August 26, 1966
• Docket: 19631
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

This Court held that federal law was applicable in determining the rights of the parties under the lease from the United States of public domain land. 1

The Supreme Court vacated our judgment, held that federal law should not govern and remanded the case to this Court for consideration of other contentions, including the claim that McKenna and Pan American should prevail under Louisiana law. 2

We agree with the district court 3 that, under Louisiana law, if McKenna or Pan American acquired any interest in the lease, it was by virtue of the written instruments. 4 We agree also with the district court’s construction of the writings, and that neither McKenna nor Pan American acquired any interest in the lease under the written instruments. The judgment of the district court is therefore

Affirmed.

1 . McKenna v. Wallis, 5 Cir. 1964, 344 F.2d 432.

2 . Wallis v. Pan American Petroleum Corp., 1966, 384 U.S. 63, 86 S.Ct. 1301, 16 L.Ed.2d 369.

3 . McKenna v. Wallis, E.D.La.1961, 200 F.Supp. 468.

4 . See the following later decisions which confirm the view of the learned district judge. Hayes v. Muller, 1963, 245 La. 356, 158 So.2d 191; Little v. Haik, 1964, 246 La. 121, 163 So.2d 558; Hester v. Tempest Oil Co., 5 Cir. 1966, 357 F.2d 164.