DDL OIL & Gas, LLC and Dustin M. Freeman v. Tapstone Energy, LLC.
DDL-Tapstone Settlement
CJ-2019-17

Welcome to the DDL-Tapstone Settlement Website

If You Are or Were Paid by Tapstone Energy, LLC Proceeds 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 September 18, 2023. 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 Defendant’s alleged failure to pay statutory interest on payments made by Defendant (or on Defendant’s behalf) outside the time periods set forth in the Production Revenue Standards Act (the “PRSA”) for oil and gas production proceeds from oil and gas wells in Oklahoma. Defendant denies 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.

Who is included?

The Settlement Class consists of all non-excluded persons or entities who received or, during the pendency of this action will receive, Untimely Payments from Defendant for O&G Proceeds from Oklahoma Wells and whose payments did not also include statutory interest prescribed by the Act.

What does the Settlement provide?

In consideration of the Settlement, Defendant has agreed to pay One Million Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,850,000.00) 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, other costs approved by the Court, and potentially some amount of money attributable to Class Members who are excluded from the Settlement Class (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.

Option/Deadline Event
You Do Not Need To Take Further Action To 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
(by September 5, 2023, at 5 p.m. CT)

(Passed)

If you do not wish to be a member of the Settlement Class, you must exclude yourself (as described in FAQ 13 and in the Settlement Agreement) 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.

Object
(by September 5, 2023, at 5 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 (as discussed in FAQ 18 and in the Settlement Agreement) write to the Court about your objections.
Attend the Final Fairness Hearing
(to be held on September 18, 2023)
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 (as described in FAQ 22 and in the Settlement Agreement).
Do Nothing If you are a Class Member and do nothing, you will be bound by the terms of the Settlement as set forth in the Settlement Agreement and the documents referenced therein, including the final Judgment entered in the Litigation, will be bound by the release of and agreement not to sue the Released Parties, will receive your portion of the Net Settlement Fund (if any), and will not be able to bring or pursue any Released Claims in any other lawsuit or arbitration. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the Settlement and all other documents regarding the Settlement that can be found at the Important Documents page.

For More Information

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

Mail
DDL-Tapstone Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91205
Seattle, WA 98111