Shot down by an Oklahoma City federal judge in his effort to move his lawsuit against Sheridan Production Company back to a state court, Oklahoma royalty owner Tony Whisenant appealed to the Tenth Circuit court of Appeals in Denver.
District Judge Vickie Miles-LaGrange had denied his motion to return the lawsuit to Beaver County District Court where the suit was originally filed in December 2014. Whisenant had charged the Houston-based company with underpayment and non-payment of royalties and his lawsuit sought an estimated $5 million.
The judge ruled last year the amount exceeded the jurisdiction amount required by the Class Action Fairness Act. Whisenant appealed and the 10th circuit reversed the judge’s order and remanded it back to her court. Last week, she again ruled against him so he returned to the federal appeals court.
His federal suit is CV-00081.