8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 3, 2009

The Meridian Resource Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Texas
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation) 1-10671
(Commission File Number) 76-0319553
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

1401 Enclave Parkway, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77077
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

281-597-7000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d- 2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e- 4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Elections of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e) On June 3, 2009, the Board of Directors of The Meridian Resource Corporation (the “Company”) approved an extension of the term of Mr. Paul D. Ching’s Employment Agreement with the Company. Mr. Ching has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since December 30, 2008 under an Employment Agreement that originally provided for a term expiring June 30, 2009. The Board approved an extension of the term of the Employment Agreement to December 31, 2009, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement. A copy of the Amendment to Employment Agreement is attached to this report as Exhibit 10.1 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (d)      Exhibits.

     10.1      Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 4, 2009, between The Meridian Resource Corporation and Paul D. Ching.

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

The Meridian Resource Corporation (Registrant)
By:	/s/ Lloyd V. DeLano
	Lloyd V. DeLano
	Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

Date: June 5, 2009

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Amendment to Employment Agreement (the “Amendment”) by and between The Meridian Resource Corporation, a Texas corporation (the “Company”), and Paul D. Ching (the “Executive”) is made and entered into as of June 4, 2009.

RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Executive is employed by the Company in the capacity of President and Chief Executive Officer under an Employment Agreement dated effective as of December 30, 2008 (the “Employment Agreement”); and

     WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company wish to amend the Employment Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Amendment.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1. Section 1.3 of the Employment Agreement. Section 1.3 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended and restated to provide as follows:

     “1.3 TERM. This Agreement shall become effective as of December 30, 2008 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in force and effect until December 31, 2009 unless sooner terminated as provided in Section 2.1 hereof. This Agreement may only be renewed or extended by written agreement executed by the Company and the Executive pursuant to mutually acceptable terms and conditions.”

     2. Other Terms of the Employment Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Amendment, all other terms of the Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. All references in the Agreement to “this Agreement” shall be read as references to the Employment Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, but references to the date of the Employment Agreement shall remain references to December 30, 2008.

     3. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof each signed by less than all, but together signed by all of the parties hereto.

     4 Choice of Law. The parties intend that the laws of the State of Texas shall govern the validity of this Amendment, the construction of its terms and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties hereto, without regard to conflict of laws provisions.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment effective as of the date first set forth above.

The Meridian Resource Corporation
By:	/s/ Lloyd V. DeLano
Name:	Lloyd V. DeLano
Title:	Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
Executive
/s/ Paul D. Ching
Paul D. Ching

2