Range Resources Moves to Dismiss W.Va. Landowners' Challenge to Leases

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Range Resources-Appalachia LLC has asked a federal court to dismiss it from a lawsuit by West Virginia property owners who say that Range somehow interfered with a gas and oil lease negotiated with Chesapeake Appalachia LLC in December. Holmes, et ux. v. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, et al., No. 5:11-cv-00123-FPS (N.D. W.Va.).

Range's Sept. 20 motion came a week after defendants removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia from the West Virginia Circuit Court of Ohio County.

Mitchell R. and Patricia A. Holmes filed their lawsuit against Chesapeake Appalachia …