“In Bad Faith” presentation by Jessica Ernst in Lethbridge March 25, 2014: Experiences of an oil and gas industry scientist

In Bad Faith Presentation by Jessica Ernst, March 25, 2104, No Drilling Lethbridge

Below, a few of Jessica’s new slides:

2013 09 19 Justice Neil C Wittmann ERCB AER judged Ernst a terrorist in total absence of evidence still gave ERCB complete immunity even for Charter violation

2014 03 25 Slide from Ernst presentation In Bad Faith in Lethbridge Justice Neil C Wittmann prevent flood of litigants wearing their Charter Clothes2014 03 25 Slide from Ernst presentation In Bad Faith Encana had filed no applications to strike argued nothing in court

2014 03 25 Slide from Ernst presentation In Bad Faith Alberta Environment Government Crown files Application to strike out Ernst case arguing immunity 'no duty of care'

2014 03 25 The Power of No Ernst slide in presentation to No Drilling Lethbridge

2014 03 25 Craig Knaus on Albertans asking for help on fracing in their communities 'These people will get nowhere'

Slides from Ernst presentation in Lethbridge

2014 03 25 Ernst after talk at lethbridge

Jessica Ernst after her talk in Lethbridge

Poster Competition Winners, Ernst Presentation and Questions and Answers Live Streamed 7 PM March 25, 2014

Jessica Ernst in Lethbridge on March 25, 2014: Experiences of an oil and gas industry scientist by No Drilling Lethbridge, March 17, 2014 Presentation was live streamed

2014 03 25 Jessica_Ernst_March 25 No Drilling Lethbridge

Jessica Ernst, oil patch consultant with 30 years experience, is suing Encana, the Alberta government and energy regulator (AER) for negligence and unlawful activities related to hydraulic fracturing, and the AER for violating her Charter rights. Jessica’s statement of claim alleges that EnCana broke multiple provincial laws and regulations, and in 2004 fractured and contaminated Rosebud’s drinking water aquifers with methane, ethane and other chemicals. The claim reports how Alberta’s two groundwater regulators, Alberta Environment and the AER, “failed to follow the investigation and enforcement processes that they had established and publicized.”

In 2005, the Rosebud water tower was destroyed in an explosion caused by “an accumulation of gases.” In 2006, the government promised to provide safe alternate water to all harmed Albertans, including Jessica. “Whatever is necessary to be done will be done,” proclaimed then Premier Ralph Klein. Jessica’s water is too explosive to even flush toilets with; she’s been hauling water herself since 2008.

After hearing arguments in January 2013, Justice Barbara Veldhuis, the case management judge, was promoted by the Harper government to the Alberta Court of Appeal and not allowed to rule. On February 15, 2013, Chief Justice Neil Wittmann volunteered to take over as case management judge. Seven months later he agreed with the AER that it had complete legal immunity, even for violating constitutional rights, and did not owe Jessica any “duty of care.” Justice Wittmann ruled the AER can’t rely on its argument that Jessica is a terrorist in “the total absence of evidence” and that the AER had violated Jessica’s Charter rights, but to prevent others coming “to the litigation process dressed in their Charter clothes whenever possible” he ruled against her. Jessica’s Appeal Factum was filed in the Alberta Court of Appeal; Jessica’s lawyers will have 45 minutes to present their arguments to a panel of three judges on May 8, 2014, in Calgary.

Justice Wittmann rejected the government’s attempts to have paragraphs stuck from the claim that mention “contamination” and other contaminated water wells in Rosebud. Subsequently, after waiting nearly three years, the government applied to have Jessica’s entire claim struck, arguing “no duty of care” and immunity. Justice Wittmann granted the government’s late request. That hearing is on April 16, 2014 in Drumheller to be heard by Justice  Wittmann. Jessica’s response to the government was recently filed and claims that the approach taken by Alberta Environment is an abuse of process and should be dismissed.

Encana filed no applications to strike and argued nothing in court.

[Refer also to:

Front Page Lethbridge Herald! Energy fight to be detailed: Jessica Ernst presents in Lethbridge March 25 and World Water Day Poster Competition Winners to be Announced

November 25, 2011: Front Page Lethbridge Herald: ‘Frack hell is imminent’ ]

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