LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 20, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerson Poynter LLP, with offices in Little Rock, Arkansas and Houston, Texas, announced today that it filed a class action lawsuit against certain BHP Billiton Petroleum entities, Chesapeake Operating, Inc., and Clarita Operating, LLC on behalf of their clients Sam and April Lane of Greenbrier, Arkansas. The class action complaint was filed in Faulkner County Circuit Court in Conway, Arkansas.
The class action alleges these oil and gas companies operate certain injection wells near Greenbrier and Guy, Arkansas that have caused thousands of earthquakes in central Arkansas, resulting in damages to residents in Faulkner County and those counties that border it (Conway, Van Buren, Cleburne, Perry and White). Further, the class action case seeks millions of dollars in damages for property damage, loss of fair market value in real estate, emotional distress, and damages related to the purchase of earthquake insurance. Additionally, attorneys for the Halls and the class of Arkansas residents also contemplate injunctive relief to ensure the continued halt of operations of two injection wells operated by Defendants, and potentially to stop other injection wells that are contributing to the unprecedented numbers of earthquakes suffered in the State of Arkansas.
Attorney Scott Poynter of Emerson Poynter represents Mr. and Mrs. Hall, and says the case is important to every citizen of Arkansas due to the environmental impact the gas wells have on the State's natural resources and beauty, and hopes to represent other Arkansans concerned about the wells and resulting earthquakes. If you have questions or concerns about your legal rights concerning recent outbreak of earthquakes in Central Arkansas, please contact us.
Emerson Poynter LLP has a national and international class-action legal practice with offices in Little Rock, Arkansas and Houston, Texas. Emerson Poynter handles complex commercial, environmental and consumer protection litigation throughout the United States. It has substantial experience in litigating large complex class-action cases and serves in a leadership position in numerous cases.