Attorney David Slottje, as any reader of this blog knows, has been traversing Upstate New York encouraging towns to enact resolutions limiting natural gas development. What began as bans turned into moratoriums, but the intent has remained the same.  That is to implement as many actions as possible in support of the Community Environmental Defense Council’s mission of protecting “land, air, water, health, and quality of life threatened by resource extraction activities… by providing free high quality legal advocacy and assistance to communities and citizen groups to help these groups in obtaining the benefit of environmental protection laws.”

In pursuit of this goal, Slottje presents himself to towns as someone of authority on issues involving natural gas regulation and limitation. He is, often, the only “expert” towns hear from before deciding whether to enact the policies he recommends.  However, a recent event in North Norwich shows Slottje’s expert advice adds up to little more than speculation on matters with which he is wholly unfamiliar.  One could argue this behavior doesn’t meet the “obligation of lawyers to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct” as outlined in the New York Bar Association’s Rules of Conductand Code of Professional Responsibility.

Review Shows Slottje and CEDC May Be Violating New York Legal Stand...