Chevron U. S. A., Inc. v. Aguillard

MEMORANDUM OPINION

JOHN V. PARKER, Chief Judge.

In this diversity action, plaintiff, Chevron, seeks a declaratory judgment that a number of mineral leases, obtained by it in 1975 from the defendant landowners are still in full force and effect. Chevron is, for diversity purposes, a citizen of California and all the defendants, landowners and holders of top leases, are citizens-of either Louisiana or Texas.

Defendants move to dismiss because they claim that Chevron has failed to join Odessa Natural Corporation (“Odessa”), with which Chevron entered a “farm-out” agreement in January, 1980,…