A jury in Scranton says Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation is responsible for contaminating the well water of two families in Susquehanna County while drilling for natural gas in the area.

Cabot plans to appeal the ruling awarding the families $4.24 million, claiming methane found in the water in Dimock was naturally occurring.

The jury sided with claims that careless drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale Gas Play caused methane contamination of the groundwater.

Deliberations lasted two days.

The Hubert family is being awarded $1.49 million while the Ely family was awarded $2.75 million.

 

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