Ray Kemble, left, and Craig Stevens look through papers outside the Susquehanna County Courthouse in Montrose, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 4, 2018. A gas driller backed off its demand to have Kemble, a Pennsylvania homeowner who’s long accused the company of polluting his water, thrown in jail over his failure to submit to questioning as part of the company’s $5 million lawsuit against him. (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam) (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam)A gas driller has backed off its demand to have a Pennsylvania homeowner thrown in jail after he agreed to talk to the company's lawyers next month.
Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. claims Dimock resident Ray Kemble and his former lawyers tried to extort the company through a frivolous federal lawsuit. Cabot also claims Kemble violated a 2012 settlement agreement by speaking ill about the company. Cabot is suing the law firm and Kemble for $5 million.
Kemble and others have accused Cabot of polluting their water supplies. Cabot denies that.
The company sought jail time for Kemble after he didn't show up for a deposition. Kemble appeared in court using a walker Monday. He says he is unable to sit for long periods after cancer surgery. Cabot agreed to give Kemble time to recover.
