§ 48-43-380 — Lessee's duty to lessor as to termination of oil or gas lease.

Whenever by reason of the termination of the full period within which an optional gas and oil lease which is of record may be kept alive by the payments of rentals, or at the termination of any of the options in such lease by reason of failure on the part of the lessee to comply with the condition therein for the prevention of forfeiture, such lease shall lapse, the lessee shall, on request in writing by the lessor, with an instrument, duly acknowledged, direct the cancellation of such lease on the records or shall supply the lessor with such instrument. Any lessee failing or refusing to supply the lessor with such an instrument, or failing or refusing to cancel any lease on the records within thirty days after receiving written demand as above, shall be liable to such lessor for a reasonable attorney's fee incurred by the lessor in bringing suit to have such forfeiture and cancellation adjudged, and in addition thereto shall be liable to the lessor for all damages suffered by the lessor by reason of his inability to make any lease on account of the first lease not having been canceled. This section shall be construed to apply to all leases for oil or gas heretofore entered into.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1977 Act No. 179, Part 1, SECTION 19; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 1236.