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Shell Fights to Keep Oil Futures Probe Documents Secret
Shell lawyers are panicking about the prospect of being compelled to hand over secret information to a US court hearing a case about alleged manipulation of the crude oil futures market. Shell mentions the protection of trade secrets. In my experience, that is probably trade secrets Shell has stolen from someone else, inevitably a smaller company, or an individual who made the mistake of trusting Shell and its sham business principles.
By John Donovan
A Shell insider source has brought to my attention certain current litigation in the USA in which Shell Oil Company has involvement as one of a number of third parties.
Shell lawyers are panicking about the prospect of being compelled to hand over secret information to a US court hearing a case about alleged manipulation of the crude oil futures market.
For obvious reasons, the timing is rather unfortunate for Shell.
The case is:
U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION, Plaintiff,
-against-
PARNON ENERGY INC., ARCADIA PETROLEUM LTD, ARCADIA ENERGY (SUISSE) SA, NICHOLAS J. WILDGOOSE AND JAMES T. DYER,
Defendant.
(Case 1:11-cv-03543-WH)
In recent days lawyers acting for Shell have filed a flurry of documents with the court, all are bundled together in the pdf file I have compiled.
As can be seen from these extracts from pages 4 and 5 of the 8 page submission, Shell really does not want to hand the information over.
Extracts
1. Shell objects to each document request to the extent it seeks to impose obligations beyond those required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and/or any other applicable rule or court order.
2. Shell objects to each document request to the extent it seeks the production of information that constitutes proprietary information, trade secrets or other confidential research, development or commercial information of Shell. Disclosure of such information would cause substantial economic harm to Shell. Further, such information is neither relevant to any issue in this lawsuit nor reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.
3. Shell objects to each document request to the extent it seeks, or can be construed to seek, the disclosure of information protected from discovery by the attorney-client privilege, the evaluation privilege, the work-product doctrine or any other applicable privilege, exemption, or immunity recognized under federal, state, or intemationallaw.
4. Shell objects to each document request to the extent that it requires the production of documents for which Shell requested confidential treatment pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act under CFTC Rule 145.9, 17 C.F.R. § 145.9.
5. Shell objects to each document request to the extent that it is overly broad, unduly burdensome, vexatious, or harassing.
6. Shell objects to each document request to the extent it calls for a legal conclusion.
7. Shell objects to each document request to the extent that it seeks documents not relevant to the claims or defenses of any party and is not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.
8. Shell objects to each document request to the extent that it requires the production of documents that contain private information about individuals.
9. Shell reserves all objections that may be available to it at any hearing or trial or on any motion to the use or admissibility of any information provided or documents produced, as well as the right to object to further discovery relating to the subject matter of any information or document provided.
Shell mentions the protection of trade secrets. In my experience, that is probably trade secrets Shell has stolen from someone else, inevitably a smaller company, or an individual who made the mistake of trusting Shell and its sham business principles.
Via
http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2013/06/26/shell-fights-to-keep-oil-futures-probe-documents-secret/
Shell law operating on Broadhaven bay – update
Shell ‘safety’ boat sinks kayak while detaining others on Broadhaven Bay.
At no time during the day was any legal authority cited for the detention of the kayakers besides a “request” by security that the kayakers leave the area.
It begins to look like Shell have carte Blanche to take the law into their own hands
via Bikerbabezzr Ireland.
Shell directors face up to 5 years in jail if guilty of price-fixing
Assessment of current situation in the price-rigging investigation partly based on an articled published today by The Lawyer today under the headline “All eyes on energy“:
Royal Dutch Shell is being advised by Clifford Chance in relation to the allegations of price-fixing.
Competition lawyers say that the investigation could be “bigger than Libor”.
If the allegations prove to be true, there is the prospect of unlimited fines and jail terms of up to 5 years for directors.
There is an incentive of reduced sanctions dependent on the degree of co-operation i.e. turning informer.
Shell has confirmed that it is co-operating with the investigation.
Shell lawyers will have to decide whether to defend or continue to co-operate.
Shell Accused of Corrupting Irish Police Force
OSSL claim that their company was a supplier to Shell in respect of the Corrib Gas Project. They allege that acting on Shell’s instructions, OSSL has distributed bribes on Shell’s behalf to parties connected with the project, including the Irish police force (the Garda) who have been the subject of serious accusations of wrong doing by environmental activists protesting against the project. The main accusation being that the Garda has acted as an offshoot of Shell security.
SELF-EXPLANATORY EMAIL FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO LINDA SZYMANSKI, CHIEF ETHICS & COMPLIANCE OFFICER, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
From: John Donovan <john@shellnews.net>
Subject: OSSL Ireland
Date: 28 March 2013 13:42:04 GMT
To: Linda.Szymanski@shell.com
Cc: michiel.brandjes@shell.com
Dear Ms Szymanski
I am writing to you in your capacity as Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer of Royal Dutch Dutch Plc.
In case you are not already aware, I want to formally bring to your attention allegations made by an Irish company OSSL against Shell EP Ireland.
OSSL claim that their company was a supplier to Shell in respect of the Corrib Gas Project.
They allege that acting on Shell’s instructions, OSSL has distributed bribes on Shell’s behalf to parties connected with the project, including the Irish police force (the Garda) who have been the subject of serious accusations of wrong doing by environmental activists protesting against the project. The main accusation being that the Garda has acted as an offshoot of Shell security.
OSSL allege that invoices have been falsified on Shell’s instructions to cover-up what has been going on.
This week, OSSL has provided what they claim is an authentic invoice to Shell dated 24 August 2012 amounting to over €35,000 for alcohol allegedly given as a corrupt payment to the Garda. Senior Garda officers are named on the invoice.
I am astonished that such allegations are continuing to be made.
Has Shell Global Security investigated?
Has the Garda investigated. If not, why not?
Something criminal seems to be going on. It remains to be seen where the criminality lies.
A copy of the purported invoice is attached.
If Shell advises that the invoice is a forgery, then we will publish nothing further supplied to us by OSSL.
Unless Shell does report this matter to the Irish police, many people may assume that OSSL is telling the truth.
Regards
John Donovan
via Shell Accused of Corrupting Irish Police Force | Royal Dutch Shell plc .com.
via Shell Accused of Corrupting Irish Police Force | Royal Dutch Shell plc .com.
Shell Corrib Gas Project mired in corruption allegations
The graphic message below was apparently sent by email to Michael Crothers, the Chief Executive of Shell EP Ireland and Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser.
It was fired off by an irate Irish company OSSL, a supplier of goods and services to the Shell Corrib project in Ireland.
OSSL has previously accused Shell management of instructing them to make corrupt payments/gifts to third parties on behalf of Shell, including Police involved in handling environmental protests against the controversial project. OSSL claim that invoices were falsified on the express instruction of Shell EP Ireland.
via Shell Corrib Gas Project mired in corruption allegations | Royal Dutch Shell plc .com.
via Shell Corrib Gas Project mired in corruption allegations | Royal Dutch Shell plc .com.
Poo-Timing Manager thrown out of Window!
There are many ways to be a good manager, and plenty of ways to be a complete asshole at it.
Management is like the force, the dark side is quicker, easier and more seductive but there can be a terrible price for following that path.
Brian Plith from City firm Bakins & Fyfe, a well respected merchant bank, was today recovering in hospital after being thrown from a fourth floor window.
His crime?
Poo-timing!
Poo-timing (looking at your watch disapprovingly as employees return from the toilet) is an ancient practice that was originally used as a punishment for alcoholic gladiators in ancient Rome.
However it has crept into the modern work place and is as likely to make your team hate your fucking guts as anything.
Check any book you like, read any scientific report…all will stop short of giving an average acceptible time for passing a stool into water.
So many factors come into play with a turd, it maybe too hard to pass easily, too soft to wipe quickly or so sexy that it needs to be followed by a wank.
Wherever you work, read the contract, you’ll find no guidelines about how long you are entitled to spend taking a shit.
So, poo-timing makes no sense, so why do people keep doing it?
They do it because it kills the happiness of a visit to the toilet.
That elated feeling of locking the cubicle door and sitting down to fiddle with your phone while gravity and precise muscle control tease out the mung.
The rush of endorphins as your bowel empties.
All that magic is killed by a sour poo-timing face!
Even the government have admitted that poo-timing, like fox hunting, bear bating and fish-dynamiting is outdated and barbaric, as yet there is no legislation in place to protect the most special time of the day for anyone with a really boring job.
Mr Plith was lucky to survive the attack and yet his employees will not face prosecution because he is a complete dick.
Are you?
