Range Resources really has a peculiar knack of energizing fratavists. Certainly has given a boost to the movement in New York. So, for that, we should all be grateful. Negative PR is a Range speciality:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Range_Resources
Range’s Martyr of the Month is Calvin Tillman - popular lecturer on the perils of fracking and new Poster Boy of Range’s Psy Ops Counter Insurgency Campaign Against Grassroots Opposition to Unfettered Fracking of Every Fracking Square Foot of New York.
http://www.texassharon.com/2012/03/08/fracking-and-psyops/
Range’ s General Counsel David Poole has been harassing Calvin with subpoenas on a lawsuit Calvin had nothing to do with.
So Calvin filed a complaint against Poole with the state bar, and Poole’s wife went online to threaten Calvin . . .
“So we say bravo Range ! It’s frackers like you that give frackers a bad fracking name ! This should be good for a few more town bans in New York State, and some more speaking engagements for Calvin. Why let Chesapeake get all the bad press ? Harass some grassroots activist and get some ink in the mainstream media - for harassing activists . . . “
Range has already popularized “Texas Sharon” Wilson - an obscure blogger until Range vaulted her into national attention as a fractavist martyr.
http://shaleshock.org/2012/03/range-resources-makes-a-martyr-of-texas-sharon/
At this rate, Texas Sharon could be beatified by the 4th of July . . .
Now Range is harassing Calvin Tillman - via frivolous depositions, part of the counter-insurgency playbook. This just in from Calvin, kindly pass along :
“I wanted to update everyone on the continued intimidation tactics by David Poole, Sr. Vice President and General Counsel of Range Resources (RRC) against Sharon Wilson. As you know Range Resources (RRC) has tried to pull both myself and Sharon into depositions for lawsuits that we had nothing to do with. They are obviously trying to silence their critics, and using unprofessional, and unethical methods to accomplish this. After the latest attack on Texas Sharon’s 1st amendment rights, it was apparent that their intentions were not to defend themselves in a lawsuit as they have suggested, but rather to punish those who have been critical of the manner in which they conduct their business. I felt that I had no other options but to file a formal compliant with the Texas Bar Association. Attorneys in every state have a standard of professionalism that they are bound to follow, and Mr. Poole and his outside attorneys are simply not following those standards. I believe that it is important for us to stand up for our freedoms here in America, otherwise we might as well quit now. We criticize other countries for using unethical methods to silence critics, and yet we tolerate it here. Please share this, and post on your websites and blogs if you agree with this letter. We need to make sure that we expose these immoral tactics used by Range Resources (RRC). I am certain that most Range Resources (RRC) investors would not approve of these techniques. And please never forget; together we bargain, divided we beg. Links to all of the documents that support this complaint are included below. In closing, I want to personally thank all of those who took time out of their schedule to call Mr. Poole in support of Sharon Wilson.”
Letter of Complaint to Texas State Bar: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzYjBjU0Y2c1pTODZqVkRXTmtCWU9nQQ
Sharon Wilson Subpoena: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzejFncnVyZm9RVnlLNUdCZWI5aTJTUQ
Sharon Wilson Motion to Quash: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzdExnc0tlOF9UcFcyM3l6Y1NjS21YZw
Response to Letter from David Poole: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzQU1RbFJVOGxUaml6dmh0RGVCbzhwUQ
Calvin Tillman Response to David Poole: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzb2JvVFdCdzlTU3VfSXdFeWl5V2Vidw
Letter From David Poole, dated March 5, 2012: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzckxCWEhrTjlSN1NYanRGZDJreXBXQQ
Range Resources Subpoena to the Town of DISH, b/s Mayor Calvin Tillman: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzSlpGOWtiUzRUSFdKaTFKTHZOMlp3QQ
Range Resources Subpoena to Calvin Tillman, Private Citizen: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzekZ3VEh4M0ZTcktoYjJDQlNMek5TQQ
Quash Request for Subpeonas: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzWjN3UWdaSlJST2FzMk9VdV9LbHUxZw
Additional Deposition Request: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzYU8zMUFVNEpUSTJiQU1mQkVQdkF2Zw
Signed Affidavit: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzSF90dXFZWlZTRXV1ZDV0cDNwclFjdw
Lipsky Deposition: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0P-oym-MTKzRzY4ZE12X3FSdWFSUElPeEpicGl4UQ
Calvin Tillman
Former Mayor, DISH, TX
(940) 453-3640
Is Range that desperate to insist on bothering anti-frackers like this?
They must be on shaky ground in their business to have to resort to such tactics-
all the best to Sharon and Calvin in dealing with this and hopefully,
it gets dropped soon and that the Texas Bar Assoc. is notified
and does something about such unethical, intimidating behaviors by Range and their attorney, Poole.
S. Thomas Bond says
The shale drilling fantasy goes on. “We never hurt anyone.”
In fact they make lots of money for their investors because they don’t pay all their costs. The large return in the first two years makes drilling attractive to investors (who don’t much care what is done if they get a larger return). Such things as depreciation of property, destroyed water, health effects, corruption of government, waste of the resource (10% recovery) and so on are off the radar of the companies and the investors alike.
We natives are subjects, not citizens.
Now you’ve done it-you’ll probably be next on the Range Resources hit parade of subpoenas and depositions. Range has found a judge they like in Trey Loftin, so they will keep that ball rolling. Don’t be too surprised to find yourself getting a subpoena.
Dory Hippauf says
and the frackers wonder why the public has a negative perceptions about gas corporations…..