This page contains information about for Class I Settlement. For information regarding the Class II Settlement, please visit the Class II Settlement subsite.

Important Update: The Settlement Administrator began issuing Distribution Checks to eligible Class I Class Members on June 20, 2023.

What is this lawsuit about?

The Litigation seeks damages for Defendant’s alleged underpayment of royalty on gas and gas constituents from oil-and-gas wells in Oklahoma. Defendant expressly denies 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 any of the parties’ claims or defenses.

What does the Settlement provide?

In settlement of Released Claims alleged in the Litigation, Defendant has agreed to pay Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) in cash (“Gross Settlement Fund”). In exchange for this payment and other consideration outlined in the Settlement Agreement, the Class I Settlement Class shall release the Released Claims against the Released Parties. The Gross Settlement Fund, less Plaintiff’s Attorneys’ Fees and Litigation Expenses, and other costs (Administration, Notice, and Distribution Costs) approved by the Court (the “Net Settlement Fund”), will be distributed to final Class I Members pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement.

A copy of the Settlement Agreement is available on the Important Documents page.

Who is included?

The Class I Settlement Class consists of the following individuals and entities:

All non-excluded persons or entities who are or were royalty owners where Kaiser-Francis Oil Company is or was the operator (or a working interest owner who marketed its share of gas and directly paid royalties to the royalty owners) for the Class Wells during the production months of August 2013, through and including December 2021, and royalties on such gas were paid to such royalty owners; and including such persons entitled to share in royalty proceeds during the production months of August 2013, through and including December 2021, under any lease that contains an express provision stating that royalty will be paid on gas used off the lease premises (an Express Fuel Clause). The claims in this matter relate to royalty payments for gas and its constituents (residue gas, natural gas liquids, helium, nitrogen, or condensate. The claims in this matter relate to royalty payments for gas and its constituents (residue gas, natural gas liquids, helium, nitrogen, or condensate).

The persons, entities, or interests excluded from the class are: (1) agencies, departments or instrumentalities of the United States of America, including but not limited to the U.S. Department of the Interior (the United States, Indian tribes, and Indian allottees); (2) the State of Oklahoma or any of its agencies or departments that own royalty interests; (3) any publicly traded company or their affiliated entities that produce, gather, process, or market gas; (4) overriding royalty owners and others whose interest was carved out from the lessee’s interest; and (5) the Released Parties.