Jury Hits Fracking Company in Texas with $2.95 Million Dollar Verdict
Less than a year ago, a jury in Texas rendered a $2.95 million dollar verdict to a ranching family in Texas who contended that nearby fracking operations created serious health issues for them and their livestock. Robert and Lisa Parr filed suit against Aruba Petroleum Inc. in 2011, contending that fracking operations near their land had contaminated the air and harmed their health. Aruba burrowed twenty wells within two miles of the Parr family’s ranch. Lisa Parr soon developed severe headaches, an invasive skin rash and open sores that did not heal. Her daughter began having chronic nosebleeds and her husband developed significant memory problems. According to the L.A. Times, the jury didn’t buy Aruba’s claim that fracking was safe and rendered a nearly $3 million dollar verdict in favor of the family. You can read the article here:
Fracking is coming to North Carolina. Understandably, people are concerned about their own health and safety. Fracking is a technique designed to recover gas and oil from shale rock. Fracking operations inject large volumes of water laced with toxic chemicals under high pressure to fracture shale rock deep underground to release natural gas.
In December, rules were approved providing the framework groups must work within to begin fracking operations in North Carolina. Those rules went into effect March 17, 2015. James Womack, a member of the Mining and Energy Commission, recently stated that some drilling may begin in North Carolina this year.
Property owners in North Carolina are understandably concerned that during fracking process, methane gas and toxic chemicals may leach out and contaminate nearby groundwater. In other parts of the country, there have been numerous reports of water contamination next to areas of gas drilling. Some people who live near fracking operations, including the Parr family, have reported suffering physical symptoms, including sensory, respiratory, and neurological damage due to contaminated water and air.
The Thorp Law Firm can advise you about how to protect your family and safeguard your property rights as fracking in North Carolina becomes a reality.