Special Master Rejects Drilling Firm's Request for Sanctions Against Plaintiffs

SCRANTON, Pa. - A special master appointed to resolve discovery disputes in a shale gas environmental suit has denied defendants' request for monetary sanctions against certain plaintiffs for refusing requests for water sampling on their properties. Fiorentino v. Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., et al., No. 3:009-cv-2284 (M.D. Pa.).

Special Master Jennifer Walsh Clark determined that defendants' email request for leave to conduct the sampling did not constitute proper service and, thus, would not support the request for sanctions based on property owners' refusals.

The decision was outside formal motion practice, but defendants can appeal to the court via motion, …