NC judge denies Duke motion to seal coal ash docs

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MICHAEL BIESECKER

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A North Carolina judge on Friday denied Duke Energy's motion seeking to shield records related to groundwater pollution leaching from 33 coal ash dumps in the state while a separate federal criminal investigation is ongoing.

Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway's ruling came after Duke defense lawyer Jim Cooney scaled back the company's request to restrict access to documents in a civil case filed last year by state regulators over environmental violations.

Duke had initially argued potential public disclosure of company documents handed over through the discovery process could taint the criminal probe. A federal grand jury in Raleigh has issued at least 23 subpoenas to state environmental officials and Duke following a Feb. 2 coal ash spill that coated 70 miles of the Dan River in toxic gray sludge.

A coalition of environmental groups has intervened in the state's case against Duke. Cooney expressed concern that lawyers for those private groups might file sensitive company documents as exhibits in court briefs or introduce them as evidence in open court hearings, thereby making them available to the media.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140404/DACVIQKO0.html

---

Thanks to Rachel Maddow for putting a light on this topic several times!!!!

[nikto]

1. Duke Energy is not a very nice person

[silvershadow]

3. No, he (or she is it?) isn't. nt

[nikto]

5. I've been wondering...

Is Duke a male or female?

Since all corporations are people, they should have to make their gender public.



I kinda' sense Exxon is a gal.

I might try to ask her out on a date sometime.

Exxon is a fascinating woman, I bet.

[silvershadow]

6. If she moves to Utah, she can have multiple husbands I hear. nt

[freshwest]

2. Excellent news! K&R. n/t

[greatlaurel]

4. Very good news indeed.

Thanks for the link.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

7. Gov. McCrory worked at Duke Energy.