Meeks v. Adams Louisiana Co.

Mr. Meeks is a sketchy character. To avoid creditors, he transferred some farmland to his wife. She owned one parcel; he transferred two additonal parcels to her. He continued to run the land as he saw fit, and she didn't mind.

Then one of the neighbors struck oil. An oil speculating company set out to buy the right to any oil found on the neighboring farms (including the three parcels owned by Mrs. Meeks). So they sent a lawyer to Mrs. Meeks' home.

But Mrs. Meeks wasn't home. Instead they found her husband, the aforementioned sketchy character.

Mr. Meeks heard the deal they were offering and agreed to it on the spot. The lawyer asked him to get Mrs. Meeks' signature. So he went inside and forged her name on a lease.

When Mrs. Meeks found out, she said she wanted nothing to do with the lease. But later she took out a loan, and used the land (including any oil royalties) as collateral. It's also been a few years without her doing much about it.

She brings this suit to clear title and cancel the lease. The court goes through several sources of agency before concluding that the lease to the land originally owned by Mrs. Meeks isn't subject to the lease.