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The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia

Thomas West answers reporters’ questions with his back against a column in the Court of Appeals rotunda Tuesday afternoon. West, of The West Firm, represents Mark S. Wallach, a trustee of the now bankrupt Norse Energy Corp., USA, which owned oil and gas leases in Dryden, N.Y. Speaking before the court, West and Scott Kurkoski, of Levene Gouldin & Thompson LLP, said decisions on where natural-gas development could occur by individual towns would create uncertainty that would prevent the larger and more prudent gas companies from investing in the state.