$2.6M Settlement Reached in Oklahoma Earthquake Lawsuit

The recent settlement is one of several in Oklahoma, where the link between wastewater disposal and seismic activity has been a contentious issue. A 5.1 magnitude earthquake near Prague, Oklahoma on February 2, 2024, prompted this latest class-action lawsuit. The quake was shallow, making the shaking more intense, and was followed by at least eight smaller temblors. The four companies named in the settlement - Freedom Energy, Montclair, New Dominion, and H&P - were alleged to have operated wastewater disposal wells that contributed to the seismic events. While they deny the allegations, they've agreed to the $2.6 million settlement to resolve the claims. Damage from the February quake was widespread but generally not severe, with residents reporting cracked drywall, shattered windows, and tumbled exterior bricks. No major injuries were reported, though the shaking was felt across Oklahoma and in neighboring states. This isn't the first time some of these companies have faced legal action. New Dominion, for example, was part of a previous settlement related to a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in the same area in 2011. That quake caused injuries and significant property damage. The legal landscape surrounding induced seismicity in Oklahoma is complex. In 2017, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club against major energy companies, ruling that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) was the proper authority to handle the issue. The OCC has since taken steps to regulate wastewater injection volumes in an effort to reduce the frequency and intensity of earthquakes in the state.