Opinion ID: 876710
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The State Lease

Text: At his death in 1959, Carlson held a state lease covering about 320 acres of land. This lease expired in 1961, and defendant renewed it in plaintiff's name. In 1963, plaintiff executed an assignment of the lease to defendant. Again, she admits her signature but does not remember signing it. Defendant testified that both parties agreed to the assignment, and it was in consideration for defendant's help with the estate. The periodic payments were thereafter made by defendant. The lease expired in 1971, and defendant took out the new lease in his own name. There is no evidence plaintiff made any effort to acquire the 1971 lease. The District Court took judicial notice of the regulations of the Commission of State Lands and Environment prohibiting the subleasing of state land for profit. The court found that since the lease assigned to defendant had expired, this question is moot. We agree and decline to consider the state lease issue further.