Federal Court Finds Lease Terms Ambiguous and Denies Summary Judgment

SCRANTON, Pa. - A federal court has denied summary judgment to either a landowner or gas developer in a dispute over termination of a lease that the court determined is ambiguous. Good Will Hunting Club, Inc. v. Range Resources, Inc., et al., No. 4:11-cv-1152 (M.D. Pa.).

Judge Robert D. Mariani of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania declined to grant summary motions by either party March 1, citing conflicting interpretations of "well development" provisions that could either extend or terminate the lease in question.

The Good Will Hunting Club entered into a five-year lease agreement with …