Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Leases
Plaintiff and energy company entered into letter agreement with oil and gas exploration and development company, which agreed to do seismic survey of land covered by leases in exchange for 25% working interest in leases. Agreement provided that if survey showed that drilling and development on leases was warranted, that company would operate wells and parties would enter into separate agreement for that. Court properly granted partial summary judgment for Defendant. Plain language of assignment Plaintiff obtained pursuant to settlement agreement granted Plaintiff 1% interest in oil produced from certain leases, but did not grant him any interest in natural gas. Uncontradicted affidavit established that all oil produced from those leases had been purchased by another company. Timing of trial court's decision to recuse itself after entering judgment in this case and in another case, without explanation, does not by itself indicate possible bias or create appearance of impropriety warranting reversal. (CATES and CHAPMAN, concurring.)