Texas Frackers Sue Victim of Their Water Pollution for $3 Million for Exposing Them

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

After all corporations are people.

Fracking outfit Range Resources slapped Texas homeowner Steve Lipsky with a $3 million defamation suit to bully him into silence about his polluted water but Lipsky is fighting back. Lipsky is a wealthy man, not used to being bullied, but the frackers think they can use their control of the state of Texas to bulldoze him. They have bought off the Texas Railroad Commission that supposedly regulates fracking in Texas, and intimidated the USEPA into inaction so they don't intend to let minor matters like safe drinking water, private property rights and the first Amendment get in the way of their pursuit of profits.

On October 10, 2013, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals ruled that Range Resources could move forward with their defamation suit against Lipsky, based in part on accusations that Lipsky is misleading the public about being able to set his water on fire

In 2010 the EPA issued an emergency order over Lipsky's contaminated water, but then retracted the order a little over a year later with no justification. An AP investigation discovered that Range had successfully pressured the EPA into submission. Although the EPA had water chemistry measurements that showed Lipsky's water was dangerously polluted, the EPA withheld the evidence and vacated the emergency order, apparently for political reasons. The EPA's actions left Lipsky vulnerable to Range's SLAPP suit.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/08/1254247/-Texas-Frackers-Sue-Victim-of-Their-Water-Pollution-for-3-Million-for-Exposing-Them?detail=email#

[Scuba]

1. And who does the EPA work for? The last corporate Dem I'll ever work to help get elected.

[cantbeserious]

2. The Oligarchs And Corporations Own And Control The Politicians That Own And Control Us

eom

[BelgianMadCow]

20. whilst also controlling the media that control what we think

and that's the state of affairs in a nutshell.

SO, if we turn off the media, become the media, go talk to people (sidestepping politics) and build alternatives to corporate products, we're saved.

[leanforward]

3. Sounds the frackers are taking a property right and the freedom of speech.

I'm not from Texas, but ANY pollution of well water must stop. This is where the market interferes with our basic rights outlined in the US constitution. His well water is my well water.

[TBF]

4. And guess who is running for land commissioner in Texas?

That's right - George P. Bush http://www.kansascity.com/2013/11/06/4602714/george-p-bush-taps-griffin-as.html

Texas General Land Office: http://www.glo.texas.gov/what-we-do/index.html

[Unknown Beatle]

5. BCS

Fuck to the NO! Noway, nohow!

They keep on breeding and they keep on fucking people.

[TBF]

6. He'll try to use it as a stepping stone

to lieutenant governor and eventually governor. It's what they do ...

[marble falls]

9. The Rail Road Commission has been a major stepping stone for many Texas polititians. Excuse me .....

if I can't think of even one. Kinky Freedman ran once.

[TBF]

12. Land Commissioner - not Railroad

Dewhurst was the most recent to serve as land commissioner and then was elected Lieutenant Governor. But then you are likely just spouting off and have no idea about Texas history. Just like to bash Texas like others on this site.

[marble falls]

13. Just talked to Kinky and he told me he's pretty sure he ran for the Rail Road Commission ....

and he also asked me to point out to you that Marble Falls is in Texas, east of Kerrville where he lives. And suggested I tell you there are "decaffeinated brands available with the full rich flavor of regular coffee." Just a little snotty in the morning are you? Like even if I were the Texas bashing type I'd be the only one here at DU. Do you lecture all of them or are you only fixed on me? As my dear departed gramma might have said about you, "Bless your heart, you don't mean no harm."

[TBF]

16. No, land commissioner is what George P. Bush is running for -

and thus the subject of my original post, which you decided to circumvent for your own twisted reasons.

As for the rest of your rambling I can only suggest you take your meds BEFORE you turn on your PC honey.

[marble falls]

17. Yeah and Kinky ran for Rail Road commission. Nasty little piece of work this morning, aincha? .....

Bless your heart, you don't mean no harm. Or do you, 'honey'?

I have no reason to <chortle> "circumvent" your original post, I mean that never, ever happens on DU, never ever! "Circumvent". <snicker>

I did add an example of people using Texas Commissions as a springboard. Kinky has run for governor, also. So do you really believe Dewhurst will ever get the nod for Gov or Pres? Do you really think Texas (well maybe), or the US will elect another Bush? Which was my point. Name one commissioner of any commission that's made it to Tex Governor or President.

If the decaf doesn't work out, try Postum. You'll find it on the shelf right next to civility.

[TBF]

18. Maybe you should make your point

instead of posting screeds of name-dropping and insults?

Might get you further ...

[marble falls]

19. I apologize for for starting the insults:

"you decided to circumvent for your own twisted reasons.

As for the rest of your rambling I can only suggest you take your meds BEFORE you turn on your PC honey. "

Oops. That was you.

OK, I shoulda had a point, like you did, ie:

"
I did add an example of people using Texas Commissions as a springboard. Kinky has run for governor, also. So do you really believe Dewhurst will ever get the nod for Gov or Pres? Do you really think Texas (well maybe), or the US will elect another Bush? Which was my point. Name one commissioner of any commission that's made it to Tex Governor or President."

Oops. That was me.

I almost turned you in, but I understand how cranky "Bush" make people - you and me both. Have a better day.

[DeSwiss]

7. K&R

[weissmam]

8. welcome to Rick Perry's busniess friendy TX

[ErikJ]

10. Geez. Is this a 3rd world Banana Republic country now?

Thats pathetic. Especially for a supposed well educated 1st world.

[Dustlawyer]

14. Big business owns all of the regulatory agencies: EPA, FCC, SEC, IRS....

It's time for these conservatives to learn the truth! Their politicians sold them out a long time ago.

[fasttense]

15. So Steve Lipsky has been voting for RepubliCONS all his life

and he thought he was one of them. And now they are turning on him.

I bet he voted for the judge that just ruled against him.