Dorchester Minerals v. Hess Bakken Investments II 2024 ND 137

Summary

The court held that a six-year limitations period governs an unleased mineral interest owner's claim for statutory interest on unpaid royalties. It further held that, even assuming a discovery rule applies, summary judgment is proper when undisputed facts would have placed a reasonable person on notice of a potential claim. The court also construed prevailing-party status for attorney-fee purposes by focusing on the party that prevailed on the merits of the action's principal issue.