The Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision finding that a 1953 deed transferring land in Harrison County did not retain the rights to drill for oil and gas by stating the owner reserved the right to mine “coal or other minerals of any vein” is the latest Featured Decision video.

In a 6-1 decision, the Supreme Court found the seller of the land, C.C. Fay, reserved the rights to mine for coal and other solid minerals when he sold the surface rights. Fay’s heirs maintained they owned the rights to drill for oil and natural gas. However, current landowners, Faith Ranch and Farms Fund, argued it owned the oil and gas rights to the property.

The Court explained why it found the language in the deed preserved the Fay family’s right to mine for coal but not drill for oil and gas.