Hydraulic Fracturing Legal News Articles & Interviews

Bakersfield, CA Just when you think the water situation in California can’t get much worse, fracking in Kern County has resulted in contaminated water that has so far killed one plaintiff’s cherry orchard. A RICO lawsuit filed two days ago claims that Governor Jerry Brown’s office ordered the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) to approve permits to inject contaminated water, which violates the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Los Angeles (June 3, 2015) (Press Release) The Committee to Protect Agricultural Water, a citizen organization comprised of farmers and individuals concerned about California’s drinking water, filed a civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) complaint in Federal Court. The RICO Complaint alleges that Governor Jerry Brown’s office ordered the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (“DOGGR”) to approve permits to inject contaminated water in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Valley Grove, WV Five years ago Mollie and her husband purchased their dream home in the country. Chesapeake Energy a few years later started fracking nearby and their dream turned into a nightmare. Mollie believes her adrenal issues and other health problems are directly caused by hydraulic fracturing contamination.

New York, NY Opponents of fracking and those concerned over the health effects of hydraulic fracturing water contamination and similar issues are applauding a decision by the administration of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to ban fracking in the state of New York. At a press conference December 17, Cuomo noted that potential health issues and risks to the environment stemming from a state review were too compelling to ignore.

Pittsburgh, PA While many people have discussed the possibility that hydraulic fracturing and fracking contamination are linked to health problems in people who live near the sites, not a lot of research has been done into the issue. Water contamination and other lawsuits have been filed alleging people who lived near the sites suffered injury or illness as a result, but still not a lot is known about the potential link between fracking and health problems.

Karnes County, TX A Texas judge’s decision in favor of two oil companies in a recent fracking lawsuit may affect past and future hydraulic fracking claims that are based on emissions creating a nuisance and not with solid scientific and medical evidence.

Bokoshe, OK Recent evidence from a number of scientists indicate that earthquakes in the US, including the largest quakes that occurred in Central Oklahoma, are linked to fracking, which will likely spur earthquake-fracking lawsuits against the oil and gas industry.

San Francisco, CA Both Democrats and Republicans last week sided with the oil industry and rejected a bill that would have put a temporary stop to fracking in the state of California.

Dallas, TX On April 22 - which coincidentally happened to be Earth Day - a Dallas jury awarded a Texas family $2.9 million in the nuisance claim they brought against Aurba Petroleum Inc. It is the first fracking lawsuit to result in a jury award and likely good news for other families who have been sickened by contaminated water and fracking chemicals.

A Dallas jury awarded a local family $3 million for the illnesses they suffered from exposure to contaminated ground water, solid toxic waste and airborne chemicals generated by natural gas fracking operations surrounding their 40-acre ranch.