§ 34-2-130 — Leases; expiration of oil, gas or other mineral leases; failure to record cancellation or other termination

If any lessee, his personal representative, successor or assign,
as the case may be, after an oil, gas or other mineral lease has
expired, been cancelled, surrendered, relinquished or otherwise
terminated shall for the space of twenty (20) days after being
thereto requested, fail, refuse or neglect to record in the
office of the county clerk of the county wherein the lands
described in said lease are located a recordable certificate or
deed of discharge or release thereof, he shall be liable to the
lessor, his heirs or assigns for all damages occasioned by such
failure, refusal, or neglect, to be recovered in a civil action.
The lessor's request for discharge or release shall be in
writing and delivered to the lessee by personal service or
registered mail at his last known address. A letterpress or
carbon or written copy of said demand, when shown to be such,
may be used as evidence in any court with the same force and
effect as the original.