West Chester’s Gates Brothers Win $60,000 for Legal Fees in Tussle Against Feds

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Rich & Kevin Gates
Rich, left, and Kevin Gates

West Chester hedge fund owners Rich and Kevin Gates have won another battle, but not yet the war, against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over investigative bullying.

The Gates-owned STS Energy Partners just won a $60,168 payment from FERC for legal fees involved in “a tussle with the commission over two (Freedom of Information Act) requests the company submitted to shine light on FERC’s recent and punitive efforts against small power market traders,” according to an SNL Financial report by Glen Boshart.

The award was ordered by the District of Columbia’s U.S. District Court Judge John Bates.

“FERC’s unjust withholding of FOIA documents is disgusting,” Rich Gates said. “We are appreciative of Judge Bates, who said we have done a public service seeking them.”

The effort was picked up by The Wall Street Journal, congressional leaders, the inspector general at the U.S. Department of Energy, and others.

“This media coverage — even if drummed up by the litigants themselves — demonstrates significant public interest in this action,” Bates said.

In the meantime, the Gates’ war against $16.8 million in FERC penalties levied against their Powhatan Energy Fund is still under review.

Read more about the latest breakthrough in the ongoing Gates brothers saga on SNL Financial here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage here.

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