Parties to Ohio Lease Dispute Whether Royalty Participants Defeat Diversity

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Plaintiffs seeking to terminate a gas and oil lease have asked a federal court to remand their action to state court, saying that in-state participants in a royalty agreement are legitimate defendants and serve to defeat the court’s diversity jurisdiction. Antolak v. Solid Rock Energy Inc., et al., No. 2:12-cv-00429 (S.D. Ohio).

Plaintiff Edward Antolak filed his motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio June 4; Solid Rock Energy Inc. responded June 25.

Antolak is seeking a declaratory judgment and damages, asserting that a 2006 oil and gas lease expired by its …