DeWine
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - A group of Ohio lawmakers are asking state Attorney General Mike DeWine to determine if energy companies are fraudulently persuading property owners to sign leases selling off their oil and gas rights.
The request came after a handbook listing various discussion points and suggesting ways to convince residents to sell their rights was discovered, The Repository reported.
According to the Stark County newspaper, more than 1,950 county property owners have signed leases with energy companies since last year.
The handbook was sent to the Ohio House Agriculture Committee. State Rep. Teresa Fedor, D-Toledo, has asked the attorney general to investigate. Rep. Dennis Murray, D-Sandusky, and Rep. Mark Okey, D-Carrollton, also have asked the attorney general to look into the situation.
According to The Repository, the lawmakers hope the Attorney General's Office can determine if the handbook is valid and legal.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.