NP represented a class of royalty owners in this action against Range Resources, an energy company with substantial interests in Oklahoma oil and gas wells. The class members in this case alleged Range unlawfully deducted certain pre-marketing costs from the class members’ royalty payments. The class also claimed Range consistently sent false and/or misleading check stubs to the class members, which concealed the alleged improper deductions. As co-class counsel, NP prosecuted this action for over two years, overcoming Range’s initial dispositive motions, conducting comprehensive fact and expert discovery—such as analyzing the thousands of oil and gas leases involved—and obtaining class certification. As Range was preparing to appeal the court’s class certification order, the parties began settlement negotiations and a mediation process with highly respected mediator and former federal judge, Layn Phillips. After multiple mediation sessions in Oklahoma City and New York City, NP and its co-counsel achieved an $87.5 million cash settlement for the class.
The class was represented by NP partners Bradley Beckworth, Jeffrey Angelovich, Susan Whatley, Lisa Baldwin. Drew Pate, and Trey Duck.