Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit September 12, 1985, 82-2309, 84-2383 (Lee Ratner and John Zuro, Individually and D/B/A the Grant Company v. Sioux Natural Gas Corp. And Sioux Pipeline Corp.)

JERRE S. WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge:

The district court adjudged defendants Elliott H. Powers and J.F. Freel, and defendants-appellants Sioux Natural Gas Corporation (Sioux) and Sioux Pipeline Corporation (Sioux Pipeline) liable, in an amount exceeding $18 million, for the securities and common law fraud that a jury found they practiced upon plaintiffs-appellees Lee Ratner, John Zuro, and the Grant