Msr Exploration, Ltd. v. Meridian Oil, Inc.

74 F.3d 910 64 USLW 2511 , 28 Bankr.Ct.Dec. 608 , Bankr. L. Rep. P 76,761, 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 419 , 96 Daily Journal D.A.R. 693 MSR EXPLORATION, LTD., a Canadian corporation; Gypsy-Highview Gathering System, Inc., a Montana corporation, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. MERIDIAN OIL, INC.; Fina Oil & Chemical Co., Inc.; Blackleaf Partners, Inc.; Blackleaf Gas Assocs., Defendants-Appellees. No. 94-35833. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Nov. 17, 1995. Decided Jan. 22, 1996. Kenneth D. Tolliver, Wright, Tolliver and Guthals, Billings, Montana, for plaintiffs-appellants. Stephen H. Foster and W. Scott Mitchell, Holland & Hart, Billings, Montana, Steven M. Johnson, Church, Harris, Johnson & Williams, Great Falls, Montana, and Mark D. Parker, Billings, Montana, for defendants-appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Before: WRIGHT, FERNANDEZ, and KLEINFELD, Circuit Judges. FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judge: 1 MSR Exploration, Ltd. and Gypsy-Highview Gathering Systems, Inc. (collectively MSR) brought this action for malicious prosecution against Meridian Oil, Inc., Fina Oil & Chemical Co., Inc., Blackleaf…