Court Opinion

ID: 9443270
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 19:16:26.202652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:26.134856
License: Public Domain

On Rehearing.
■ PHILLIPS, Chief Judge:
Judge Murrah and I adhere to the views expressed in our former opinion. Judge Huxman adheres to the views expressed in his concurring opinion.
On July 7, 1937, C. C. Webb and Ruby I. Webb, by mineral deed, conveyed an undivided one-half interest in the minerals in the land involved in this action to W. E. Hocker. On July 8, 1938, Hocker, by mineral deed, in which his wife joined, conveyed an undivided one-fourth interest in the minerals in the land to J. G. Scott. On September 21, 1939, W. E. Hocker died testate. By his will he devised all of his interest in the minerals in the land to Martha M. Hocker, his widow, and Walter E. Hocker, Jr., his son. The other pertinent facts are set forth in our former opinion and need not be reiterated here.
In our former opinion we did not expressly pass upon the rights of Shell Oil Company under its oil and gas leases with respect to the one-half interest in the minerals acquired by Scott, Martha M. Hocker, and Walter E. Hocker, Jr. That issue was fully argued in the briefs and orally on rehearing and we are requested to decide it.
We deem it unnecessary to determine whether the redemption by Wilkin as against the State of Oklahoma constituted a redemption not only of the interest owned by Wilkin, but also of the one-half interest in the minerals owned by Scott, Martha M. Hocker, and Walter E. Hocker, Jr. Neither would it be appropriate for us to decide that question, because the State of Oklahoma is not a party to this proceeding.
Our former opinion was predicated upon the proposition that as against Wilkin, Shell was not a purchaser in good faith, and took its leases subject to Wilkin’s right to redeem, and that upon the redemption by Wilkin, Shell’s leases failed as to the one-half interest in the minerals owned by Wilkin. Martha M. Hocker, Walter E. Hocker, Jr., and Scott were personally served with process in the foreclosure suit and interposed no defense therein. No fraud was practiced on them by the State of Oklahoma. The foreclosure proceedings with respect to their one-half interest in the minerals were in all respects valid and regular and their right to redeem their one-half interest in the minerals expired at the expiration of six months from the date of the judgment in the foreclosure proceeding. As to the one-half interest in the minerals owned by Martha M. Hocker, Walter E. Hocker, Jr., and Scott, Shell was a bona fide purchaser for value and took its leases from the State without notice of any defect in the title acquired by the State to such one-half interest.
Accordingly, we conclude that Shell’s leases are valid and binding as to the one-half interest in the minerals owned by Martha M. Hocker, Walter E. Hocker, Jr., and Scott, and that any right that inured to them by virtue of Wilkin’s redemption is subject to Shell’s leases.
The judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded with instructions to enter a judgment in accordance with the views expressed in our former opinion and in this opinion on rehearing.