Gas driller: Make homeowner pay for disparaging us
MONTROSE, Pa. — A gas driller argued in court Monday that it’s entitled to monetary damages from a Pennsylvania homeowner who continued bad-mouthing the company after settling his water-contamination lawsuit against it more than five years ago.
Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. claims Dimock resident Ray Kemble and his former lawyers tried to extort the company through a frivolous federal lawsuit that recycled already-settled claims against Cabot. The lawsuit, which was filed in April but withdrawn two months later, accused Cabot of polluting Kemble’s water supply anew.
Cabot says the claims in Kemble’s suit were the subject of a 2012 settlement between Cabot and dozens of Dimock residents, including Kemble. Cabot’s suit also claims Kemble has repeatedly breached the 2012 agreement by publicly talking about the company.
The company is seeking monetary damages against Kemble and his former lawyers. The first hearing in the case was held Monday.