In January 1986, appellants and appellee were named as defendants in an action commenced in Louisiana state court by J-O'B Operating Company, the agent for the former stockholders and employees of Jones-O'Brien, Inc. J-O'B, also a party to the letter agreement, sought to be recognized as an owner of a fractional interest in appellee's sublease of State Lease 5419. J-O'B Operating Co. v. Newmont Oil Co., 560 So.2d 852, 853 (La.Ct.App. 1990), writ denied, 565 So.2d 449-54 (La. 1990). Appellants filed a cross-claim against appellee and others seeking the same relief J-O'B sought.