Texas Court Affirms Validity of Lease and Bonuses Owed

FORT WORTH, Texas - A divided Texas appellate court found that altered signing and filing provisions in a mineral rights lease were agreed to by the lessee, binding her to the lease's terms, including payment of a lease bonus and finder's fee. Lucas v. Coomer, et al., No. 02-09-00152-CV (Texas Ct. App., 2nd Dist.).

The Texas Court of Appeals, Second District, concluded 2-1 on Dec. 16 that language requiring the lessee to initial each page and file the original record were not conditions precedent and were altered in the execution.

This dispute arose over a lease negotiated by intermediary …