SWN Prod. Co., LLC v. Long, 2017 W. Va. LEXIS 892 (W. Va. Oct. 18, 2017)

Respondents Richard and Mary Long (“Respondents” or “Lessors”) brought a state court action against Petitioner SWN Production Company, LLC (“Petitioner” or “Lessee”) seeking to recover alleged payments owed pursuant to an oil and gas lease (the “Lease”) entered into between Petitioner and Respondent.
Petitioner filed a motion to compel arbitration, relying on the Lease’s arbitration provision, which reads:  “In the event of a disagreement between Lessor and Lessee concerning this Lease, performance thereunder, or damages caused by Lessee’s operations, the resolution of all such disputes shall be determined by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.”Continue Reading West Virginia Supreme Court Applies Doctrine of Severability to Enforce Lease’s Arbitration Provision, Despite Other Provisions Contemplating Litigation in Court