Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Contingencies [Abstract]

Contingencies

12. Contingencies

Legal proceedings

From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings, including the matter discussed below. These proceedings are subject to the uncertainties inherent in any litigation. The Company is defending itself vigorously in all such matters, and while the ultimate outcome and impact of any proceeding cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the resolution of any proceeding will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

On December 18, 2009, Tiberius Capital, LLC (“Plaintiff”), a stockholder of Petrosearch prior to the Company’s acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Petrosearch pursuant to a merger between Petrosearch and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, filed a claim in the District Court for the Southern District of New York against Petrosearch, the Company, and the individuals who were officers and directors of Petrosearch prior to the Acquisition. In general, the claims against the Company and Petrosearch are that Petrosearch inappropriately denied dissenters’ rights of appraisal under the Nevada Revised Statutes to its stockholders in connection with the Acquisition, that the defendants violated various sections of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and that the defendants caused other damages to the stockholders of Petrosearch. The plaintiff was seeking monetary damage. On March 31, 2011, the District Court judge dismissed the case. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal on April 29, 2011 and filed its appellate brief and appendix with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on August 11, 2011. The Company filed its brief on October 13, 2011 supporting the District Court’s March 31, 2011 opinion and judgment dismissing the case.