Kernen, et al. v. Citizen Energy II, LLC, et al.
Kernen-Citizen II Settlement
CJ-2018-7

Welcome to the Kernen-Citizen II Settlement Website

If You Are or Were Paid Royalty or Overriding Royalty by Citizen Energy II, LLC or Citizen Energy III, LLC from an Oklahoma Oil and Gas Well, You Could Be Part of a Proposed Class Action Settlement

Important Update: The Court granted final approval to the Settlement on August 26, 2024. Copies of the Court's Order and other relevant pleadings are available on the Important Documents page.

What is this lawsuit about?

The Litigation seeks damages for Defendants’ alleged failure to pay statutory interest on payments made by Defendants (or on Defendants’ behalf) outside the time periods set forth in the Production Revenue Standards Act, Okla. Stat. tit. 52 § 570.1, et seq. (the “PRSA”) for royalty and overriding royalty payments from oil and gas wells in Oklahoma.

Defendants deny any and all liability related to Plaintiffs’ allegations and further states that neither Plaintiffs nor any of the Class Members are entitled to the relief sought in the Litigation and further states that it would not be appropriate to award any type of damages to the Class Members. The Court has not reached a final judgment as to whether Plaintiffs have proved or can prove their claims against Defendants.

Who is included?

The Settlement Class consists of the following individuals and entities:

All non-excluded persons or entities who received late royalty and/or overriding royalty payments during the Class Period from Defendants for Oil & Gas Proceeds from Oklahoma Wells and whose payments did not also include the statutory interest prescribed by the Act.

“Claim Period” means any time period when checks or payments were made or issued on behalf of or by Defendants prior to and including November 30, 2023.

A list of the persons or entities excluded from the Class can be found in the Notice of Proposed Settlement, which is available for download from the Important Documents page, or at FAQ 6.

What does the Settlement provide?

In consideration of the Settlement, Defendants have agreed to pay $4,668,120.00 in cash (“Gross Settlement Fund”). The Gross Settlement Fund, less Plaintiffs’ Attorneys’ Fees, Litigation Expenses, Administration, Notice, and Distribution Costs, any Case Contribution Award awarded by the Court, and other costs approved by the Court (the “Net Settlement Fund”), will be distributed to Class Members who qualify for a distribution.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

These deadlines may be moved, canceled, or otherwise modified, so please check this site regularly for updates.

Do Nothing, Participate in The Settlement

If the Settlement is approved, you do not need to take any further action to participate in the Settlement and receive a payment. The portion of the Net Settlement Fund to which you are entitled will be calculated as part of the administration of the Settlement.

Exclude Yourself
received by August 5, 2024
at 5 p.m. CT
(Passed)

If you do not wish to be a member of the Settlement Class, you must exclude yourself and you will not receive any payment from the Settlement Fund. You cannot bring or be part of another lawsuit or arbitration against any of the Released Parties based on any Released Claims unless you exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. For more information, see FAQ 13.

Object
received by August 5, 2024
at 4:30 p.m. CT
(Passed)

If you do not exclude yourself and you wish to object to any part of the Settlement, the attorneys’ fees or litigation costs requested by Class Counsel, or the Case Contribution Award requested by Plaintiffs, you may write to the Court about your objections. For more information, see FAQ 18.

Attend the Final Fairness Hearing
to be held on August 26, 2024
at 1:30 p.m. CT

If you have submitted a valid and timely written objection to any aspect of the Settlement, the attorneys’ fees or litigation expenses requested by Class Counsel, or the Case Contribution Award requested by Plaintiffs, you may (but do not have to) attend the Final Fairness Hearing and present your objections to the Court at that hearing. For more information about the Hearing, see FAQ 20.

For More Information

Visit this website often to get the most up-to-date information.

Mail
Kernen-Citizen II Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91350
Seattle, WA 98111