Steptoe & Johnson PLLC: PA Court Upholds Right to File Single Assignments Containing Multiple Leases

By Russell L. Schetroma

By opinion dated January 27, 2012, the Honorable Rochelle S. Friedman, Senior Judge, writing for a panel of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court affirmed a decision of the Court of Common Pleas of Wayne County requiring Ginger Golden, Recorder of Deeds of Wayne County, "to rescind her policy against recording 'blanket assignments' and to record all documents that are within the scope of Pennsylvania's recording statutes, provided they are properly acknowledged and the appropriate statutory fee has been paid."  (A "blanket assignment" would appear to be any single assignment intended to assign multiple leases.)   Hopefully, this decision will end the unfortunate practices not only of Ms. Golden but of several other recorders across the Commonwealth who have imposed arbitrary limitations upon the recording of oil and gas lease assignments.

Click here to read the entire opinion in Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC v. Ginger Golden, in her capacity as Wayne County Recorder of Deeds, Pa Commonwealth Court No. 833 C.D. 2011.

© 2012 Steptoe & Johnson PLLC  All Rights Reserved

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