Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this lawsuit about?
- Am I a part of the Settlement Class?
- What can I get from the Settlement?
- Do I have a Lawyer in this Settlement?
- When and where will the Court decide to approve the settlement?
- What is the Status of the Case?
- How can I file a Claim?
- How do I object to the Settlement?
- How do I exclude myself from the Settlement?
- How do I get more information?
- What is this lawsuit about?
Chesapeake, SandRidge, and Mr. Ward were sued by mineral owners (Plaintiffs) in federal court for conspiring to fix or set prices paid to them in exchange for the chance to lease the leasehold or working interests. Plaintiffs alleged that instead of competing against each other to offer the leaseholders the highest price for leasing the mineral interest, Chesapeake and SandRidge conspired to provide a low price to the leaseholders. As a result, the leaseholders did not receive as high of a payment for leasing their minerals or working interests to Chesapeake and SandRidge as they should have received. Chesapeake and SandRidge deny these claims and maintain they did nothing wrong. Plaintiffs in this lawsuit have brought an antitrust claim under the Sherman Act against Defendants.
Top - Am I a part of the Settlement Class?
You are part of the Settlement Class if you owned or controlled mineral interest within the Mississippi Lime Play and at any time between December 27, 2007 and April 1, 2013 you signed a lease with Chesapeake or SandRidge (or their affiliates or agents, such as landmen) that gave them the right to explore for and produce minerals that you own and they paid you a bonus and/or royalty payment in connection with that lease.
You are not a member of the Class, even if you meet the above criteria, if you are:
• One of the Defendants, Released Parties, or alleged co-conspirators or officers, directors, employees, and immediate families;
• One of the Defendants’, Released Parties’, or alleged co-conspirators’ parent companies, subsidiaries, agents, affiliates, legal representatives, heirs, assigns, or any person acting on their behalf;
• A federal or state government entity or its instrumentalities with whom Chesapeake has already settled or entered into tolling agreements, including:
• City of Waynoka
• An individual or entity with whom Chesapeake has already settled or entered into tolling agreements, including:
• Avalon Exploration, Inc.
• Dell Wood
• Deneen Dryden
• EOG Resources
• Kaiser-Francis Oil Co.
• Kirkpatrick Oil Co.
• Primexx Energy Partners
• Steven Redgate
• Wesley Weichman
• The small landowners residing in the City of Waynoka to whom Chesapeake sent settlement checks that have been cashed, listed in Attachment A to the Settlement Agreement.
• A judicial officer presiding over this action or his/her immediate family member or are a judicial staff member or juror assigned to the Class Action.Top - What can I get from the Settlement?
At this time, it is not possible to make any determination as to how much the members of the Class who make timely approved claims may receive from the Settlement. After approval of the Settlement by the Court and upon satisfaction of the other conditions to the Settlement, the Net Settlement Fund will be distributed to the Authorized Claimants in accordance with the Plan of Allocation approved by the Court.
Top - Do I have a Lawyer in this Settlement?
The Court has appointed four law firms to represent all Class Members as interim “Class Counsel.” They can be contacted at:
Warren T. Burns
BURNS CHAREST LLP
900 Jackson Street, Suite 500
Dallas, Texas 75202Terrell W. Oxford
SUSMAN GODFREY LLP
1000 Louisiana, Suite 5100
Houston, Texas 77002Christopher J. Cormier
COHEN MILSTEIN SELLERS
& TOLL, PLLC
5290 Denver Tech Center Parkway
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111Todd M. Schneider
SCHNEIDER WALLACE COTTRELL
KONECKY WOTKYNS, LLP
2000 Powell Street, Suite 1400
Emeryville, California 94608You will not be charged for contacting these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.
Top - When and where will the Court decide to approve the settlement?
The Court will hold a Final Fairness Hearing at 9:30 a.m. on April 25, 2019, at the William J. Holloway United States Courthouse, Western District of Oklahoma, 200 NW 4th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, Courtroom 301. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement, Plan of Allocation, and any proposed fees and expenses are fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections, the Court will consider them and will listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing. The Court may also decide how much to pay Class Counsel. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement. We do not know how long these decisions will take. The hearing may be moved to a different location or time without additional notice, so it is a good idea to return to this website for the most updated information.
You are also welcome to attend the Final Fairness Hearing at your own expense, or to pay your own attorney to attend the Final Fairness hearing on your behalf, but you do not need to attend.
Top - What is the Status of the Case?
All Potential Class Members identified by the Defendants have been given notice of the settlement. Claim forms are currently being processed, and are due postmarked or electronically submitted by June 24, 2019. If you have already submitted a claim, we will contact you via mail (and/or e-mail) if any further information is needed. A Final Fairness Hearing will be held on April 25, 2019, to determine whether the settlement will be approved. For an updated status on the settlement, please come back to the website after April 25, 2019.
Top - How can I file a Claim?
To recover any benefits that you may be eligible to receive as a Class Member in connection with the proposed Settlement, you must complete, sign and return a Proof of Claim form by June 24, 2019. Claims may be submitted online at the File a Claim page on this website. If you submit a Proof of Claim with your contact information, you will receive future notifications containing additional important information, including with respect to any future Settlements. You may also download the Claim Form on the Notice Page of this website, and mail your completed Proof of Claim to:
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Anadarko Settlement Claims Administrator
C/O KCC Class Action Services
P.O. Box 404073
Louisville, KY 40233-4073. - How do I object to the Settlement?
If you are a member of the Class, you can object to the Settlement if you don’t like some part of it. To object, you must submit a letter or other written document according to page six of the Notice:
The objection must be delivered or sent for filing to the Clerk of the Court, by mail or special delivery service to the address listed below with a postmark no later than April 4, 2019.
Clerk of the Court
United States District Court for the Western Dist. of Oklahoma
200 N.W. 4th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102If your objection is not postmarked by the deadline and does not follow the guidelines from the Notice, it will not be valid.
Top - How do I exclude myself from the Settlement?
To exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must mail a letter or other written document to the Settlement Administrator. To exclude yourself from the Class, you must file a timely written “Request for Exclusion” postmarked no later than April 4, 2019 to:
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Clerk of the Court
United States District Court for the Western Dist. of Oklahoma
200 N.W. 4th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
&
Anadarko Settlement Claims Administrator
C/O KCC Class Action Services
P.O. Box 404073
Louisville, KY 40233-4073 - How do I get more information?
You can get a copy of the Settlement Agreement at from the Case Documents page on this website or by emailing the Settlement Claims Administrator at info@anadarkosettlement.com. You also may write with questions to:
Top
Anadarko Settlement Claims Administrator
C/O KCC Class Action Services
P.O. Box 404073
Louisville, KY 40233-4073