Real Estate Alert: Beware of Title Wash of Deed Reservations on Unseated Lands by tax sale deeds.
No. 1,549 HERDER SPRING HUNTING CLUB v. KELLER et al., 143 A.3d 358 (2016). WOODHOUSE HUNTING CLUB, INC. v. HOYT et al., 2018 Pa. Super 78 (2018). CORNWELL MOUNTAIN INVESTMENTS, LP et al. v. PROCTOR HEIRS TRUST et al., 2017 Pa. Super 74 (2017) There is an exception to the black letter law principle […]
Can an Oil and Gas Lease be Rejected in Bankruptcy?
No. 740 Babst Calland, a Pittsburgh law firm with a substantial energy law practice, has posed a great question on their blog. Can a landowner reject an oil and gas lease as an executory contract under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code? But why would a landowner want to do so? At the present time, […]
Marcellus Shell Games.
With over 150 years of experience in gas production, you would think that our region would be pretty comfortable with the subject. But apparently not. The recent boom in Marcellus Shale gas leasing and operation has stirred a lot of controversy. South Fayette Township recently joined a growing list of municipalities that are adopting comprehensive ordinances seeking to regulate the industry within its borders. Although the State has comprehensive regulations which would seem to pre-empt local ordinances, the courts have permitted local regulation. And the City of Pittsburgh and, recently, Wilkinsburg Borough have entirely banned Marcellus drilling from their jurisdiction. This is due to environmental concerns, including fears that fracking fluids will pollute our drinking water.