Important Update: The Settlement Administrator began issuing Distribution Checks to eligible Class Members on March 2, 2022.
What is this lawsuit and Settlement about?
The Litigation seeks damages for Ovintiv, Inc. and Ovintiv Mid-Continent, Inc.'s (the "Defendants") alleged failure to properly pay royalty on gas and its constituents. Defendants expressly deny all allegations of wrongdoing or liability with respect to the claims and allegations in the Litigation. The Court has made no determination with respect to the merits of any of the parties’ claims or defenses. A more complete description of the Litigation, its status, and the rulings made in the Litigation are available in the pleadings and other papers maintained by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in the file for the Litigation.
What does the Settlement provide?
Defendants have agreed to pay Nineteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($19,500,000.00) in cash (“Gross Settlement Fund”). The $19,500,000.00 cash payment is referred to as the “Gross Settlement Fund.” The Gross Settlement Fund, less Class Counsel’s Fees and Litigation Expenses and Administration, Notice, and Distribution Costs, and other costs approved by the Court (the “Net Settlement Fund”), will be distributed to Final Class Members pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement.
Who is included?
The Settlement Class in the Litigation consists of all non-excluded persons or entities who are royalty owners in Oklahoma oil-and-gas wells where Defendants (including their affiliated predecessors and affiliated successors) are or were the operator (or a working interest owner who marketed its share of gas and directly paid royalties to the royalty owners) between September 25, 2014, and April 30, 2021. The Class claims relate to or arise from royalty payments for gas and its constituents (such as residue gas, natural gas liquids, helium, nitrogen, or drip condensate). A list of the persons or entities excluded from the Class can be found in the Long-Form Notice, which is available for download from the Important Documents page.
If you belong to the Settlement Class and the Settlement is approved, your legal rights will be affected whether you act or not. Read the Notice carefully to see what your rights and options are in connection with the Settlement.