ST. MARYS – Several oil and gas interests owners are suing an oil and gas company over claims it has failed to pay signing bonuses per lease terms.
Mary Virginia Cosper Templeton, Catherine Diane Wagner Lindblad, Mary Theresa Wagner Walter, Bernard Joseph Wagner and Kimberly Wagner Hill filed a lawsuit Dec. 30 in Pleasants Circuit Court against HERC Oil and Gas, alleging breach of contract.
The suit states the plaintiffs were lessors with HERC, and under the terms of the leases, HERC was to pay each plaintiff a signing bonus or payment of $3,000 per net mineral acre within 30 days from the date of signing the lease.
The leases provided that HERC's failure to pay the bonuses within the time prescribed would render the leases null and void, the complaint states.
The suit states HERC allegedly has failed and refused to pay the plaintiffs per the terms of the leases, and more than 60 days have passed since the plaintiffs have demanded payment and HERC has failed to pay them.
The plaintiffs seek a judgment declaring HERC to be in default on its leases with the plaintiffs and declaring the leases null and void, plus attorney fees and other costs of the suit.
They are represented by attorney Carolyn G. Flannery of Snyder & Hassig in New Martinsville. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tim Sweeney.
Pleasants Circuit Court Case number 15-C-41