September 20, 2013 – Emails shows relationship between AG’s office, energy company

Emails shows relationship between AG’s office, energy company

BY MICHAEL L. OWENS | Bristol Herald Courier | Posted: Friday, September 20, 2013 2:57 pm

BRISTOL A Bristol Herald Courier review of dozens of emails from a Virginia attorney general staffer to energy company lawyers being sued for natural gas royalties revealed she offered nearly as much advice on court procedure as on constitutional issues.

Among AG staffer Sharon Pigeon’s suggested courtroom tactics are a method to combat a possible information request by lawyers for Southwest Virginia landowners as well as a counter argument against the amount of royalty proceeds they sought.

In all, the Herald Courier reviewed a series of 52 emails obtained from the Attorney General’s Office through a Freedom of Information Act request. The emails were sent between 2010 and 2012.