A St. Clair County couple is suing an oil development company, claiming breach of contract and trespass.
Charles R. Larson and Virginia M. Larson filed a lawsuit Jan. 24 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Dupo Oilfield Development Inc. and Raymond J. Cole Jr.
The Larsons allege in the suit that on Sept. 25, 2008, they entered into an agreement to lease real estate to the defendants for the purpose of investigating, drilling and mining for oil, liquid hydrocarbons and natural gas.
The defendants allegedly failed to abide by several of the terms in the contract, causing the Larsons to lose money.
According to the complaint, the defendants took equipment they didn't own off the property and sold it for scrap metal. The Larsons also claim the defendants performed many illegal actions that weren't remedied once brought to the defendants' attention and they have dumped unauthorized items on the property.
The Larsons are seeking fair market value for items removed from the property, damages in excess of $100,000, interest, attorney's fees and court costs.
They are seeking to have Larson Resources Inc. be appointed as the operator of the property and for the defendants to no longer have the right to be on the property.
They are being represented in the case by Mt. Vernon attorneys L. James Hanson and Daniel M. Bronke of L. James Hanson, Attorney at Law.
St. Clair County District Court Case No. 2014-L-123.