WHEELING -- Two West Virginia companies want a court case against them moved to the Northern District of West Virginia.
Brooke County residents Carol G. Dwyer and Elizabeth Ellen Fluharty originally filed Dec. 31, 2013, in Brooke Circuit Court, each requesting an oil, gas and coalbed methane gas lease they signed be declared void as it has been extended past the terms of the lease.
Range Resources-Appalachia LLC and Chesapeake Appalachia LLC filed notice of removal Feb. 19 to to move a case to the Northern District of West Virginia Circuit Court.
According to the claim, Dwyer signed a lease Oct. 22, 2007, with Range Resources-Appalachia LLC and would receive $7,018.50. On July 1, 2010, the lease was assigned to defendant Chesapeake Appalachia LLC without her notice. Range Resources-Appallachia LLC had the documents notarized without the parties being present. The terms of the lease were presented as being for five years and promised oil drilling would commence within two years, which did not occur.
Fluharty signed a similar lease with the defendant Sept. 15, 2007, and experienced the same circumstances.
The defendants filed the notice to get the case into the jurisdiction it belongs.
The defendants are being represented in the case by attorneys Lucas Liben and Kenneth J. Witzel. The plaintiffs are being represented by Paul J. Harris and Shawn L. Fluharty.
Northern District of West Virginia Circuit Court case 5:14-cv-21; Brooke Circuit Court case number 13-C-176