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Beaver County family settles federal suit over drilling lease
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A contentious federal court case involving a Beaver County farm family and gas drilling firm Chesapeake Appalachia has been settled, according to a judge's order issued today closing the case.
The McRoberts family, of Darlington, and several neighboring families had said they were tricked into signing disadvantageous leases that were purchased by Chesapeake. They sued in state court, and the matter was removed to U.S. District Court after Chesapeake sought and got an order allowing it to clear trees in the habitat of the rare Indiana bat.
There the family broadened the court fight by claiming that Chesapeake violated local zoning rules.
U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone issued the closure order, which did not disclose settlement terms. Attorneys for the McRoberts family and Chesapeake could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.
First Published October 10, 2012 6:04 pm
