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Individuals who owned or had an interest in residential or commercial real estate in Oklahoma between Jan. 19, 2019, and the effective date of the settlement and whose property suffered earthquake damage may be eligible to claim a share of a class action settlement.
Freedom Energy, Montclair, New Dominion and H&P agreed to pay $2.6 million to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging their operation of wastewater disposal wells contributed to earthquakes in Oklahoma, including the 5.1 magnitude earthquake near Prague on Feb. 2, 2024.
There is a separate $555,000 settlement involving Spess Oil Co., Circle 9 Resources and Culbreath Oil & Gas Co. Inc.
Who can file a claim?
Class members include individuals, municipalities, county governments or tribal governments who owned or had a property interest in real estate within the borders of Oklahoma between Jan. 19, 2019, and the effective date of the settlement and whose property suffered earthquake damage from earthquakes, foreshocks or aftershocks within Oklahoma during that period.
The settlement recognizes two geographic zones for claimants:
- Zone A: Properties located in Lincoln, Payne, Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Okfuskee and Creek counties. The settlement considers these claimants to have the strongest connection to the earthquakes at issue so they are eligible for a larger share of the settlement fund.
- Zone B: Properties elsewhere in Oklahoma but outside the counties listed above. These claimants are eligible for a smaller share of the fund.
How much is the settlement payment?
Class members who submit valid claims with supporting documentation may receive compensation for repair damages incurred due to qualifying earthquakes. The settlement administrator will distribute the net settlement fund based on the amount of damages the class member claims and supports with documentation.
- Zone A claimants will receive 90% of the net settlement fund.
- Zone B claimants will receive 10% of the net settlement fund.
If the total approved claims in a zone exceed the amount allocated to it, the settlement administrator will reduce payments on a pro rata basis.
If the total approved claims in a zone are less than the net fund, claimants will receive payment up to the amount of their repair estimates and bills. The settlement administrator will then return any leftover funds to the defendants in proportion to their contributions.
How to claim an earthquake payment
Class members can submit the online claim form or print, complete and mail the PDF claim form (pages 51-51 of the settlement agreement) to the settlement administrator. The claim deadline is July 28, 2026.
Settlement administrator's mailing address: Salzman Class Action Settlement, Attn: Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132
What proof or documentation required to submit a claim?
All claimants must provide evidence of their damages, such as repair estimates and bills, to support the claimed amount. The claim must specify a sum that does not exceed the documented repair costs.
Payout options
The settlement administrator will mail checks to approved claimants.
$2.60 million settlement fund
The $2,600,000 settlement fund covers:
- Settlement administration costs: To be determined
- Attorneys' fees: Up to $1,040,000
- Attorneys' expenses: Up to $25,000
- Service awards to class representative: $7,500
- Payments to eligible class members: Remaining settlement fund
Important dates
- Deadline to request exclusion: March 30, 2026
- Fairness hearing: April 9, 2026
- Deadline to file a claim: July 28, 2026
When is the Oklahoma earthquake settlement payout date?
Class members will receive payment within 30 days after the later of:
- Final approval of the settlement
- The deadline for claim form submission
- The date the court resolves all objections to claims or evidentiary deficiencies
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 earthquake near Prague on Feb. 2, 2024.
The defendants deny any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the costs and risks of further litigation and to provide compensation to affected property owners.
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