Fluid, wastewater spills are common in Marcellus Shale drilling

Spills of drilling fluid and industrial wastewater are all too common among drilling operators seeking natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation.

There have been hundreds of incidents of spills at natural gas drilling sites in Pennsylvania during the last five years by more than 90 different drilling companies. According to The Times-Tribune newspaper, many of the largest drill operators in the Marcellus Shale have received notices of violation for spills that reached waterways, for leaking containment pits that contaminated drinking water and for other problems.

So far this year, inspectors have found 421 violations at Marcellus Shale wells. At least 50 of the violations involved a spill to soil or water that state officials attribute to poor management and a lack of proper oversight.

The blowout of a well drilled by EOG Resources in early June has focused Pennsylvania regulators’ attention on the need for new drilling safety regulations for Marcellus Shale gas drilling in order to prevent accidents and injuries.

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., are experienced in worksite accident lawsuits and will evaluate your case and explore all possible sources of recovery. We fight to protect the rights of workers and property owners. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a Marcellus shale drilling accident, you may have a legal claim. Contact us at 1-800-318-LAW1 or submit an online free claim evaluation.

Marcellus Shale gas drilling violations

Inspectors Finding Hundreds of Environmental Violations in Marcellus Shale Operations

Exploring for natural in the Marcellus Shale formation can be dangerous work and result in injuries to workers including fatal injuries if workers are not properly trained or the work sites are unsafe.

Pennsylvania’s top environmental regulator said that safety conditions can be improved at well drilling sites once the state Department of Environmental Safety has the legal authority to reject well-drilling permits for safety reasons and to require companies to improve worker training.

State environmental regulators have found 530 environmental violations during 1,700 inspections of Marcellus Shale drilling sites since January, Environmental Protection Secretary John Hangar told a state Senate committee Wednesday. The violations include spills and leaks from improper containment pits, poor erosion and sediment controls and administrative lapses.

The blowout of a well drilled by EOG Resources near Black Moshannon has focused state regulators’ attention on the need for new drilling safety regulations for Marcellus Shale gas drilling to prevent accidents and injuries.

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley & Cartwright are experienced in worksite accident lawsuits and will evaluate your case and explore all possible sources of recovery. We fight to protect the rights of workers. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a Marcellus shale drilling accident, you may have a legal claim. Contact us at 1-800-318-LAW1 or submit an online free claim evaluation.

$2.6M Medical Malpractice Verdict In Bethlehem

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the United States and failure to properly diagnose this disease can be devastating – even fatal – to the patient, sometimes ending in a medical malpractice charge against the medical care givers.

A ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ended a two-and-a-half year journey through the state courts for a $2.6 million medical malpractice verdict against St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network and one of its gynecologists.

The case was filed in Lehigh County, with the plaintiff alleging the doctor breached the standard of care when he did not advise her to have a biopsy on what turned out to be a cancerous lump in one of her breasts.

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley, & Cartwright are experienced in medical malpractice lawsuits and will evaluate your case thoroughly and explore all potential sources of recovery – we fight to protect the rights of patients.  If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Contact us now at 1-800-318-LAW1 or submit an online free Medical Malpractice Claim Evaluation.

Loads Spilled onto Roadway in Pennsylvania Truck Crash

A recent multi-truck crash on a Pennsylvania highway shows one very real danger posed by tractor-trailer accidents — the risk that cargo and dangerous fuels will be spilled.

At Munley, Munley and Cartwright, we are truck / tractor trailer accident and injury lawyers and we’ve seen this all too often.  Did you know that every 16 minutes a person is killed or injured in a truck accident? Even so,  trucking industry lobbyists continue to call for the weakening of truck safety rules and regulations to reap a higher profit. If you have been harmed in a truck accident, contact us online today  for a free consultation or call us toll free at 1-800-318-LAW1.

In the latest accident, a three-truck crash in the northbound lanes of I-95 in Milford spilled liquid latex and diesel fuel onto the road, closing a section of I-95 for several hours on Monday and sending two truck drivers to the hospital, according to the news report below.

Multi-Truck Interstate Crash

Blowout of Marcellus Gas Well Illustrates Risk of Mining Technique

Like many areas of the state, Clearfield County is looking for a financial boost from Marcellus Shale and natural gas exploration. But the June 3 blowout of a Marcellus gas well there shows the risk of those operations.

At Munley, Munley and Cartwright, we’re all for economic gains in our Pennsylvania communities, but not when people and property are irreparably harmed. If you have been injured by Marcellus Shale gas exploration, contact us online today  for a free consultation or call us toll free at 1-800-318-LAW1.

What happened in Clearfield County? Workers lost control of the well on the Punxsutawney Hunting Club grounds, resulting in  75-foot fountain of natural gas and toxic wastewater. The link below has full details on the incident.

Marcellus Shale Blowout

Matthew A Cartwright Recognized by Luzerne County Bar Association for Pro Bono Efforts

L-R: Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association President Robert Schaub, Atty. Matt Cartwright, Jack Cartwright, and W-BLLA Executive Director Thomas Burke.

Matthew A. Cartwright was one of four attorneys who received awards for exceptional legal leadership during a gathering of the 700-member bar association of Luzerne County, the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association.

Cartwright, a lawyer with Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., was recognized for his leadership of the Juvenile Pro Bono Defense Program, which was created to guarantee pro bono counsel for juveniles that had been adjudicated by former President Judge Mark Ciavarella in the event their cases were retired.

Also honored during the celebration were attorneys Kelly Ann Bray, Matthew Muckler and Frank T. McCabe II. Bray organized volunteer lawyers to draft wills for area first responders and other public service personnel through the Young Lawyers’ Division program “Wills for Heroes” held at Luzerne County Community College in 2009. Muckler and McCabe organized the 2010 Regional Mock Trial Competition at the Luzerne County Courthouse over several nights. Area schools competed by arguing cases before judges of the Court of Common Pleas and volunteer juries in a courtroom.

$82.5 Million Awarded To Blast Victim’s Family

As wrongful death attorneys, we deal with the grief and confusion a family feels following the unexpected and unnecessary death of a loved one.  It is difficult for family to maneuver through the maze of legalities while mourning the loss of their loved one, especially when the death is that of a young father and husband.

The Star-Telegram reports the family of a 27-year-old man who died of injuries suffered in an explosion at a natural gas processing plant has been awarded $82.5 million by a Harris County (Texas) jury.

In May, 2007, the young man was injured when a hot-oil treater exploded and he died at the hospital the next day.  The award will go to his widow and the couple’s three young children, including a son born shortly after his father died.

Exterran Energy Solutions L.P of Houston – formerly Hanover Compression L.P. – will be liable for the damages if the award is upheld.  The plant, built by Hanover, is owned by Fort Worth-based Quicksilver Resources, a natural gas producer. 

The jury found Hanover was grossly negligent and 90% responsible for the accident and Quicksilver was 10% responsible but not guilty of gross negligence.  Quicksilver was not responsible for any monetary damages because the company provided workers’ compensation insurance for its employees.  The young man was a Quicksilver employee.

The common denominator for every wrongful death is that some degree of negligence on the part of another contributed to the victim’s death.  The Scranton, Pennsylvania attorneys of Munley, Munley & Cartwright have years of experience representing the survivors of wrongful death victims and will fight to get the compensation you deserve.  For a free consultation of your legal claim throughout the state of Pennsylvania, please submit an online form or call us at: 1-800-318-LAW1.

Wrongful Death

Former Employees Sue International Paper Over Hearing Loss

Louisiana’s The Town Talk reports more than 150 former employees are suing the Pineville Mill of International Paper (IP) for $50,000 each for hearing loss suffered on the job.

The lawsuit alleges the workers were exposed to loud noises caused by permanent defects in the facility where they worked and that IP was negligent because the injuries were entirely preventable had proper safety procedures been practiced by the company.   The lawsuit also claims IP was aware of the danger of hearing loss but withheld the information from the employees.

The damages are sought for pain, suffering, and medical bills related to the hearing loss.

The Munley, Munley, & Cartwright law firm has years of experience in personal injury claims.  If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an accident caused by the carelessness or negligence of another, call our office today at 1-800-318-LAW1 for a free assessment of your case or use our Free Online Accident Case Evaluation.

 International Paper Personal Injury Lawsuit

$1.7 Million Awarded For Nerve Damage Following Baby’s Birth

 The Post-Standard reports a New York state Supreme Court jury has awarded a home-care nurse almost $1.7 million for permanent nerve damage following her baby’s birth three years ago.

The lawsuit was filed against Community General Hospital after the hospital administered an intramuscular injection in an attempt to stop the woman’s vomiting following the birth of her third child. The suit claimed the injection was given too low causing damage to the woman’s sciatic nerve. 

The 34-year-old mother now suffers from lower back pain and is unable to sit or stand for any length of time and has other physical problems as a result of the nerve damage.  Although she still works as a home health care nurse, her doctors believe her condition will become worse.

Our attorneys at Munley, Munley, & Cartwright are experienced in medical malpractice lawsuits and will evaluate your case thoroughly and explore all potential sources of recovery – we fight to protect the rights of patients.  If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, you may have a medical malpractice claim. Contact us now at 1-800-318-LAW1 or submit an online free Medical Malpractice Claim Evaluation.

N.Y. Medical Malpractice

Pennsylvania County Prepares Plan for Handling Drilling Disaster

In preparation of EnCana Oil & Gas USA’s plan to begin drilling a well at a site in Fairmount Township, the Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency has begun creating an emergency response plan. Town officials are working closely with the energy company to identify the protocol to handle any local natural gas drilling-related catastrophe that might occur.

According to an Encana spokesperson, the local firefighters and emergency responders are not responsible for containing or fighting a gas well fire or gas release at a well site, however, they will be asked to provide support to Enanca’s specially trained teams.

Encana admits that “risks are inherent in the oil and natural gas industry,” but that safety is their top priority. They will look to local emergency responders to secure and evacuate the immediate area, in an emergency, while the designated well-control company representatives are enroute to the disaster site.

Barney Dobinick, who is also the Emergency Management Agency coordinator for Lake Township, feels “very comfortable” with the guidelines. Professionals from Luzerne and local counties attended a training event on a scenario to determine how all the resources can work together in the event of a catastrophe.

When the plan is complete it will be shared with area municipal officials for their approval and made available to the public. Dobinick anticipates a mid-June completion date.

At Munley, Munley, & Cartwright, we are familiar with the region, and we have extensive experience in holding companies and individuals who have injured others accountable for their conduct.

If you have suffered a mysterious illness or an injury caused by nearby gas drilling, we can help you build a compelling case to hold the energy companies responsible. Contact us now at 1-800-318-LAW1 or use our convenient online form.

Encana Natural Gas Drilling