Oil And Gas Companies $555K Oklahoma Earthquakes Settlement

Published

November 5, 2025 4:29 PM

Updated

November 5, 2025

Individuals who owned or had an interest in residential or commercial property in Oklahoma between Jan. 19, 2019, and the settlement’s effective date and whose property suffered earthquake damage may be eligible to claim a portion of a class action settlement.

Spess Oil Co., Circle 9 Resources and Culbreath Oil & Gas Co. Inc. agreed to pay $555,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging they operated wastewater disposal wells that contributed to earthquakes in Oklahoma, including the 5.1 magnitude earthquake near Prague on Feb. 2, 2024.

Who qualifies for an earthquake payout?

The following individuals and entities are eligible to participate in the settlement:

Anyone (including persons, municipalities, county governments or tribal governments) who owned or had an interest in real property within Oklahoma between Jan. 19, 2019, and the settlement’s effective date
Those whose property suffered damage from earthquakes, foreshocks or aftershocks with epicenters in Oklahoma during this period

The settlement class is divided into two main groups based on the location of the damaged property:

Zone A: Claimants with damaged properties in Lincoln, Payne, Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Okfuskee and Creek counties. These claimants have the strongest link to the alleged induced seismicity and will receive priority for settlement funds.
Zone B: Claimants with damaged properties elsewhere in Oklahoma but outside the Zone A counties. These claimants are eligible but have a less direct link to the seismic activity at issue.

How much can class members get?

The total settlement fund is $555,000. The amount each class member can receive depends on the number of valid claims, the amount of documented damages and the claimant’s zone.

Zone A: These claimants will share 90% of the net settlement fund. Distribution is based on the amount of proven damages.
Zone B: These claimants will share 10% of the net settlement fund. Distribution is also based on the amount of proven damages.

If the total of all approved claims is less than the net settlement fund, claimants will receive the full amount of their approved damages. If the total exceeds the fund, the settlement administrator will decrease payments on a pro rata basis.

How to claim a class action payment

Class members can submit the online claim form or download a personalized claim form, print it out, complete it and mail it to the settlement administrator. The claim deadline is Jan. 25, 2026.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Salzman Class Action Settlement, Attn: Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132 Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132

Required documentation

Claimants must submit documentation showing the extent and cost of earthquake-related property damage, including repair estimates and bills, to support their claim. The claim form requires a sum certain amount not to exceed the documented repair costs.

$555,000 settlement fund breakdown

The $555,000 settlement fund includes:

Attorneys’ fees: Up to $222,000
Attorneys’ expenses: Up to $25,000
Service awards to class representatives: $7,500 per class representative
Payments to eligible class members: The remainder of the net settlement fund

Important dates

Exclusion (opt-out) deadline: Sept. 27, 2025
Final approval hearing: Oct. 20, 2025
Deadline to file a claim: Jan. 25, 2026

When is the Salzman, et al. v. Freedom, et al. payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments to eligible claimants approximately 30 days after it resolves any objections or evidence deficiencies or the court grants final approval, whichever is later.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged the settling defendants operated wastewater disposal wells that contributed to earthquakes in Oklahoma, including the significant 5.1 magnitude event near Prague on Feb. 2, 2024.

The settling defendants deny any wrongdoing or liability. The parties reached the settlement to avoid the costs and uncertainties of further litigation.