In Re: Western States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litigation (MDL 1566)

Filing 3127

AMENDED ORDER re ECF No. 3126 Order : Final Fairness Hearing scheduled for Monday 8/5/2019 at 9:00 AM in LV Courtroom 4B before Judge Robert C. Jones. Signed by Judge Robert C. Jones on 4/5/2019. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - DRM)

Download PDF
1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA 2 ) IN RE WESTERN STATES WHOLESALE ) MDL Docket No. 1566 ) 4 NATURAL GAS ANTITRUST ) LITIGATION Base Case No. 2:03-cv-01431-RCJ-PAL ) 5 ) 6 THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO: ) ) 7 Arandell Corp., et al. v. Xcel Energy, Inc., et ) Case No. 2:07-cv-01019-RCJ-PAL ) al. 8 ) ) Case No. 2:09-cv-00915-RCJ-PAL 9 NewPage Wisconsin System Inc. v. CMS ) Energy Resource Management Co., et al. ) 10 ) ) 11 ) ) 12 ) 13 ) AMENDED 14 ORDER PRELIMINARILY CERTIFYING SETTLEMENT CLASSES, APPROVING CLASS SETTLEMENT, APPROVING CLASS NOTICE AND SETTING DATE FOR 15 FAIRNESS HEARING 3 16 The motion of the Plaintiffs in the above-captioned actions (the “Actions”) for separation of 17 claims and for preliminary approval of the terms and conditions (the “Settlements”) in the following 18 Settlement Agreements (collectively, the “Agreements”) has come before this Court: 19 (i) the Settlement Agreement dated February 1, 2019 entered into between Plaintiffs and 20 El Paso Corporation (n/k/a El Paso LLC) and El Paso Merchant Energy, L.P. (n/k/a 21 El Paso Marketing Company, L.L.C.) (collectively “El Paso Defendants”); and 22 (ii) 23 24 the Settlement Agreement dated February 1, 2019 entered into between Plaintiffs and CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc., (“CenterPoint Defendant”); The El Paso Defendants, and CenterPoint Defendant are hereinafter referred to collectively 25 as the “Settling Defendants.” Plaintiffs and the Settling Defendants are hereinafter referred to 26 collectively as the “Parties.” 27 28 54998267.3 1 The Court, after carefully considering the motion and all papers filed and proceedings held 2 herein, including the Agreements and proposed Notice Plan, for good cause HEREBY FINDS AND 3 ORDERS THE FOLLOWING: 4 1. The Parties include plaintiffs Arandell Corporation, Merrick’s Inc., Sargento Foods 5 Inc., Ladish Co. Inc. (n/k/a ATI Ladish LLC), Carthage College, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, and 6 NewPage Wisconsin System Inc. (n/k/a Verso Minnesota Wisconsin LLC) (collectively hereinafter, 7 “Plaintiffs”), both individually and on behalf of proposed settlement classes of industrial and 8 commercial purchasers of natural gas for their own use or consumption in the State of Wisconsin, as 9 more particularly defined in Paragraph 4 of this Order, and other affiliated Releasors defined in the 10 Agreements, along with the Settling Defendants and other affiliated Releasees as defined in the 11 Agreements. 12 2. This Court entered a Suggestion of Remand on January 14, 2019 (ECF No. 3105). 13 However, as the Court finds that it will promote the convenience of the parties and the just and 14 efficient conduct of the Actions, the claims in the Actions against El Paso, CenterPoint, and Reliant 15 (Reliant Energy, Inc. (n/k/a GenOn Energy, Inc.), and Reliant Energy Services, Inc. (n/k/a RRI 16 Energy Services, LLC)), are separated from the claims against the remaining defendants. With 17 respect to El Paso and CenterPoint, this Court finds that it will avoid delay and facilitate prompt 18 distribution of the settlement funds to class members if this Court (which has overseen multiple class 19 settlements in this MDL) retains jurisdiction over the claims against these settling defendants. 20 Further, because the CenterPoint settlement is linked to a separate settlement involving the bankrupt 21 entity Reliant and eventual dismissal of the claims against Reliant in the Actions, this Court finds 22 that it will avoid delay and facilitate the completion of the CenterPoint settlement and distribution of 23 the CenterPoint settlement funds to class members if this Court retains jurisdiction over the claims in 24 the Actions against Reliant as well. Thus, this Court requests that the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict 25 Litigation (“JPML”) allow this Court to retain jurisdiction over the claims in this Action against El 26 Paso, CenterPoint and Reliant. This Court amends its Order of January 14, and suggests remand of 27 28 -2- 1 the claims against the remaining defendants other than El Paso, CenterPoint and Reliant. The 2 Plaintiffs may file this Order with the JPML. 3 3. The Agreements are incorporated by reference in this Order. All terms which are 4 defined in the Agreements and used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings 5 ascribed to them in the Agreements. 6 4. For purposes of determining whether the Agreements should be preliminarily 7 approved, the Court conditionally certifies, for purposes of settlement only, pursuant to Rules 23(a) 8 and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3), the Class defined as follows: 9 All industrial and commercial purchasers of natural gas for their own use or consumption during the Relevant Time Period, and which gas was used or consumed by them in Wisconsin. Excluded from the Class are (a) entities that purchased natural gas for resale (to the extent of such purchase for resale); (b) entities that purchased natural gas for generation of electricity for the purpose of sale (to the extent of such purchase for generation); (c) entities that purchased natural gas from entities that sold natural gas at rates approved by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (to the extent of such purchases at such approved rates); (d) defendants and their predecessors, affiliates and subsidiaries; and (e) the federal government and its agencies. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 5. “Class Period” means, with respect to each of the Midwest Classes, the 17 period from January 1, 2000, through October 31, 2002. 18 6. The Court preliminarily finds that the Settlements set forth in the Agreements: (i) 19 resulted from extensive, good-faith, arms-length negotiations between the Parties, conducted after 20 Class Counsel as defined herein had conducted adequate investigation and discovery; and (ii) are 21 sufficiently fair, reasonable and adequate to the Wisconsin Class to warrant providing notice in 22 accordance with the Notice Plan described in the Motion for Preliminary Approval and thereafter 23 conducting the final Fairness Hearing as described in Paragraph 11, below. 24 7. The Actions are, for settlement purposes only, certified as class actions against the 25 Settling Defendants pursuant to Rule 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for the 26 Wisconsin Class and with respect to the Class Period. Certification for settlement purposes is 27 appropriate because: 28 -3- 1 a. The Court preliminarily finds that the requirements of Rules 23(a) and (b)(3) of the 2 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are met in that: 3 (i) The Wisconsin Class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable; 4 (ii) 5 The Plaintiffs’ claims against the Settling Defendants and the defenses thereto 6 present questions of law or fact common to the Wisconsin Class that 7 predominate over questions affecting individual members of the Wisconsin 8 Class; (iii) 9 The claims against the Settling Defendants brought by the Plaintiffs in the 10 Actions, as industrial and commercial purchasers of natural gas for their own 11 use and consumption during the Class Period, are typical of the claims of, or 12 defenses to the claims of, members of the Wisconsin Class against the Settling 13 Defendants; (iv) 14 Plaintiffs and Class Counsel for the Wisconsin Class have fairly, adequately 15 and vigorously represented the interests of the Wisconsin Class as respects 16 claims against the Settling Defendants; (v) 17 Certifying the Wisconsin Class for purposes of settlement is superior to others 18 method for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy in the Actions 19 as against the Settling Defendants; and (vi) 20 Manageability for trial purposes is not an issue and need not be considered in 21 determining whether to certify the Midwest Classes herein for purposes of 22 settlement. See Amchem v. Windsor, 512 U.S. 591, 619 (1997). 23 8. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g), for settlement purposes, Kohner, Mann & Kailas, 24 S.C., and Polsinelli PC are preliminarily appointed as co-counsel for the Wisconsin Class. Arandell 25 Corporation, Merrick’s Inc., Sargento Foods Inc., Ladish Co. Inc. (n/k/a ATI Ladish LLC), Carthage 26 College, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, and NewPage Wisconsin System Inc. (n/k/a Verso 27 Minnesota Wisconsin LLC). are preliminarily appointed as representatives for the Wisconsin Class. 28 -4- 1 9. AB Data, Ltd. is preliminarily appointed as Settlement Administrator. 2 10. The Court has reviewed the proposed Long and Short Form Class Notice(s) submitted 3 as Exhibits 4 and 5 to the Motion for Preliminary Approval and preliminarily approves such notices 4 as to form and content. Class Counsel and/or the Settlement Administrator shall cause Class Notice 5 to be disseminated in the manner provided in the Notice Plan described in the Motion for 6 Preliminary Approval (the “Notice Plan”) within 28 days after the entry of this Order. The costs 7 associated with providing class notice shall be borne as set forth in the Agreements, including the 8 provisions thereof addressing the allocation of such costs in the event that the Settlements do not 9 become final. The Court preliminarily finds that the form(s) and method(s) of giving notice of the 10 Settlements are reasonably certain to inform the absent members of the Wisconsin Class, are the best 11 notice that is practicable under the circumstances, and constitute valid, due and sufficient notice to 12 all members of the Wisconsin Class in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Rules of 13 Civil Procedure and of due process under the United States Constitution, and the requirements of any 14 other applicable rules or laws. 15 11. 9:00AM, April 17, 2019 A final Fairness Hearing is scheduled for ______________________, 2019, 5, 2019 9:00A.M., MONDAY, AUGUST at ___ 4B 16 a.m. in Courtroom ____ of this Court, located at 333 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89101. At 17 the Fairness Hearing, the Court will consider and/or determine, among other things: (i) whether to 18 finally certify for settlement purposes the Wisconsin Class as against the Settling Defendants; (ii) 19 whether to finally approve the Settlements as fair, reasonable and adequate; (iii) whether the Notice 20 Plan and Class Notice(s) provided complied with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and due 21 process; (iv) whether to enter the Final Order and Judgment approving the applicable Settlement in 22 the form(s) attached to the respective Agreements as Exhibit 1 thereto; and/or (v) whether to grant 23 the Fee and Expense Application(s) submitted by Class Counsel and/or the applications for incentive 24 award(s) to Plaintiffs and, if so, the amounts thereof to be awarded out of the Settlement Fund(s). 25 The Court reserves the right to approve the Settlements at or after the Fairness Hearing and to do so 26 with such modifications as may be consented to by the applicable Parties and without further notice 27 to the members of the Wisconsin Class. 28 -5- 1 12. All papers supporting final approval of the Settlements (other than papers that may be 2 filed by one of the Parties in response to requests for exclusion or objections as described in 3 Paragraphs 14-15 below), shall be filed no later than twenty-one (21) days before the Fairness 4 Hearing. The Fairness Hearing may be postponed, adjourned or rescheduled by order of the Court 5 without further notice to the members of the Wisconsin Class, other than that which may be posted 6 on the Court’s website. 7 13. The Court further approves the procedures for prospective members of the Wisconsin 8 Class to exclude themselves from (i.e., opt out of) or object to, the Settlements, as set forth in 9 Agreements and in the Class Notice(s). 10 14. In particular, any person or entity who seeks to opt out of the Wisconsin Class must 11 submit a timely and valid written request for exclusion in accordance with the Agreements. As a 12 result of the release and as provided in the Agreements, a prospective Class Member seeking to opt 13 out must request exclusion from all of the Settlements that are the subject of the Class Notice (for 14 example, it is not permitted to exclude oneself from the settlement with one of the Settling 15 Defendants, but remain a class member for purposes of the settlement with any other of the Settling 16 Defendants). 17 15. To be “timely,” a request for exclusion must be mailed to Class Counsel or to the 18 Settlement Administrator at the address(es) provided in the Class Notice and postmarked (or mailed 19 by overnight delivery) no later than twenty-one (21) days prior to the date of the Fairness Hearing. 20 To be “valid,” a request for exclusion must also: (i) state the name, address, and phone number of 21 the person or entity seeking exclusion; (ii) state all trade names or business names and addresses that 22 the person or entity (and any of his, her or its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors or 23 assignors who purchased, used or consumed natural gas during the class period) has used during or 24 since the class period; (iii) state, with respect to natural gas purchased, used or consumed within 25 Wisconsin during the Class Period by any of the persons and entities described in sub-parts (i) or (ii) 26 above, an estimate of the total dollar amount paid for such natural gas or an estimate of the total 27 volume of such natural gas, and identify all entities from or through whom such natural gas was 28 -6- 1 purchased; (iv) include the case name of the actions (In Re Western States Wholesale Natural Gas 2 Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1566 (D. Nev.)); (v) include the statement that “[name of person or 3 entity] and all of its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates hereby request to be excluded from the 4 proposed class settlements described in the notice of settlements pertaining to the actions;” and (vi) 5 in the case of an entity, identify the title or position of the person signing on behalf of such entity, 6 state that such person is duly authorized to sign on behalf of such entity, and be signed by such 7 person. A request for exclusion that does not strictly comply with all of the requirements set forth in 8 this paragraph shall be invalid, and every person or entity submitting such an invalid request shall be 9 a Class Member, and shall be bound by the Agreements if they are approved by the Court. Class 10 Counsel shall immediately forward complete copies of all requests for exclusion, as they are 11 received, to counsel for the Settling Defendants (and the Settlement Administrator shall promptly 12 forward to Class Counsel copies of all requests for exclusion, as they are received). 13 16. Within five (5) days after the Court-ordered deadline for timely requests for exclusion 14 from the Wisconsin Class, counsel for the Parties shall meet and confer and establish complete lists 15 of: (i) all timely and valid requests for exclusion received as of that date; (ii) all requests for 16 exclusion received that the Parties agree are either not timely or otherwise not valid; and (iii) all 17 requests for exclusion received as to which there is any dispute requiring Court resolution at the 18 Fairness Hearing as to whether such request for exclusion was both timely and otherwise valid. 19 Either of the parties may file papers addressing the issues set forth in this paragraph no later than 20 seven (7) days before the Fairness Hearing. 21 17. Any person or entity that submits a timely and valid request for exclusion shall be 22 excluded from the Wisconsin Class, shall have no rights with respect to these Settlements (including 23 no right to share in any recovery obtained pursuant to the Actions) and shall not be permitted to 24 intervene as a party plaintiff in the Actions (but without affecting those persons or entities’ ability to 25 exercise their rights under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 or the Class Notice(s)). Any prospective member of 26 the Wisconsin Class who does not timely and validly request to be excluded in the manner set forth 27 above and in the Class Notice and the Agreements will be deemed to have waived all rights to opt 28 -7- 1 out of, and will be deemed a member of, the Wisconsin Class for all purposes under the Agreements 2 (including the releases of claims thereunder) and will be bound by all proceedings, orders and 3 judgments in the Actions, including the terms of the Settlements, if approved. 4 18. Prospective members of the Wisconsin Class who have not timely and validly 5 requested exclusion and who want to object to the Settlements must do so in accordance with the 6 procedures set forth in the Agreements and in the Class Notice(s). Specifically, any such person or 7 entity must, no later than thirty (30) days before the Fairness Hearing, both file with the Court and 8 mail to Class Counsel or the Settlement Administrator, and also mail to counsel for the Settling 9 Defendants, a written objection that includes: (i) a notice of intention to appear; (ii) proof of 10 membership in the Wisconsin Class; and (iii) the specific grounds for the objection and any reasons 11 why such party desires to appear and be heard, as well as all documents or writings that such party 12 desires the Court to consider. To address the possibility that objectors may fail to mail objections to 13 both sides, the Parties shall exchange, by email within five (5) days after close of the period for 14 filing objections, pdf copies of all objections received. 15 19. Objections to the Settlements shall be heard, and any papers or briefs submitted in 16 support of said objections shall be considered by the Court (unless the Court in its discretion shall 17 otherwise direct), only if they comply with the objection procedures set forth herein. Counsel for the 18 Parties may file and serve written response(s) to any objection no later than 5 days before the 19 Fairness Hearing. Any Wisconsin Class member who does not object in the manner prescribed 20 herein and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Agreements and Class Notice(s) will 21 be deemed to have waived any objections and will be barred from making any such objections in the 22 Actions or in any other action or proceedings related thereto, including in an appeal or collateral 23 attack. 24 20. Any entity which has timely and properly excluded itself from the Wisconsin Class 25 shall be permitted to apply to the Court for good cause shown to re-enter the Wisconsin Class prior 26 to final approval of the settlement classes. If the Court approves such application, the applying 27 entity will retain the same rights and obligations under the Agreement as the Class Members. 28 -8- 1 21. Pursuant to the stipulation of the Parties, they, and their respective counsel, shall not 2 encourage or solicit, or substantively assist in any way whatsoever, any person or entity to request 3 exclusion from the Wisconsin Class. 4 22. Pursuant to the Agreements, each of the Settling Defendants shall deliver into the 5 Escrow Account the initial installment of its payment towards the Settlement Fund within fourteen 6 (14) days of the entry of this Order. Up to a maximum of $50,000 from each of the Settling 7 Defendants’ payments towards the Settlement Fund may be utilized toward the costs of Class Notice 8 and/or of administration of the Settlement Fund (subject to further allocation as provided in the 9 Agreements). 10 23. If final approval of the Settlements is not obtained, or if the Settlements do not 11 become Final as provided in the Agreements, or if the Agreements are otherwise terminated or 12 rescinded pursuant to their terms for any reason (including pursuant to the applicable 13 Supplemental Agreement(s)), then: (i) the claims against El Paso and CenterPoint shall be rejoined 14 with the remaining claims in the Action, whether in this jurisdiction or in the Western District of 15 Wisconsin, if remand of the remaining claims has already occurred, (ii) any preliminary or final 16 certification of the Wisconsin Class shall be automatically vacated, nunc pro tunc; (iii) all other 17 provisions set forth in paragraph 37 of the El Paso Agreement and paragraph 36 of the CenterPoint 18 Agreement shall apply; (iv) any and all amounts paid by Settling Defendants into the Settlement 19 Fund and/or deposited in the Escrow Account (including interest earned thereon) shall be returned to 20 Settling Defendants within thirty (30) calendar days, less only disbursements made in accordance 21 with paragraphs 37 of the El Paso Agreement and paragraph 36 of the CenterPoint Agreement; and 22 (iv) Settling Defendants shall have no further payment obligations pursuant to the Agreements. 23 24. Neither the Agreements nor this Order shall be deemed or construed to be an 24 admission by the Settling Defendants of: (i) any violation of any statute or law or of any liability or 25 wrongdoing whatsoever by the Settling Defendants; or (ii) the propriety of certification of a 26 litigation class in the Actions. 27 28 -9- 1 25. To facilitate administration of the Settlements pending final approval, the Court 2 hereby stays all proceedings in the Actions in this Court as between the Wisconsin Classes and the 3 Settling Defendants until further order of the Court, except such proceedings as may be necessary 4 either to implement the Settlements or to comply with or effectuate the terms of the Agreements or 5 Fed. R. Civ. P. 23. The Court further enjoins, prior to entry of a final order after the Fairness 6 Hearing, all Wisconsin Class members from filing any claims, suits or proceedings asserting 7 Released Claims against any of the Settling Defendants unless and until such Wisconsin Class 8 members have filed valid requests for exclusion in accordance with Paragraphs 14-15 hereof. 9 26. For purposes of the CenterPoint settlement, this Court’s Order is an indicative order 10 under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62.1(3). If the Court of Appeals remands the Wisconsin 11 claims against CenterPoint, then this Court intends to enter the relief indicated in this Order with 12 respect to the CenterPoint settlement, automatically and without requirement of entry of any further 13 order, nunc pro tunc the date of this Order. 14 15 27. If any deadline in this Order falls on a non-business day, then the deadline is extended until the next business day. 16 17 IT IS SO ORDERED. 18 19 20 21 Dated: ___________________________ April 5, 2019 _______________________________________ Hon. Robert C. Jones United States District Judge 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -10- Case MDL No. 1566 Document 283 Filed 02/20/19 Page 1 of 2 UNITED STATES JUDICIAL PANEL on MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION IN RE: WESTERN STATES WHOLESALE NATURAL GAS ANTITRUST LITIGATION MDL No. 1566 (SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE) ORDER VACATING, IN PART, CONDITIONAL REMAND ORDER In accordance with orders entered by the District of Nevada transferee court on February 19, 2019, the Panel’s Conditional Remand Order filed February 11, 2019 (ECF No. 273), is VACATED, in part, as follows: With respect to Heartland Regional Medical Center, et al. v. Oneok, Inc. et al., C.A. No. 2:07-00987 (W.D. Missouri C.A. No. 5:07-06048), and Learjet, Inc., et al. v. Oneok, Inc., et al, C.A. No. 2:06-00233 (D. Kansas C.A. No. 2:05-02513), the Conditional Remand Order is VACATED in its entirety. With respect to Arandell Corp. et al v. Xcel Energy Inc. et al., C.A. No. 2:07-01019 (W.D. Wisconsin C.A. No. 3:07-00076) and NewPage Wisconsin System, Inc., et al. v. CMS Energy Resource Management Company, et al., C.A. No. 2:09-00915 (W.D. Wisconsin C.A. No. 3:0900240), the Conditional Remand Order is VACATED as to the claims by plaintiffs in those actions against (1) El Paso Corporation (n/k/a El Paso LLC), and El Paso Merchant Energy,L.P. (n/k/a El Paso Marketing Company, L.L.C.); (2) CenterPoint Energy Services, Inc.; and (3) Reliant Energy, Inc. (n/k/a GenOn Energy, Inc.), and Reliant EnergyServices, Inc. (n/k/a RRI Energy Services, LLC). FOR THE PANEL: Jeffery N. Lüthi Clerk of the Panel Case MDL No. 1566 Document 283 Filed 02/20/19 Page 2 of 2 IN RE: WESTERN STATES WHOLESALE NATURAL GAS ANTITRUST LITIGATION MDL No. 1566 SCHEDULE FOR CRO TRANSFEREE TRANSFEROR DIST DIV. C.A.NO. DIST DIV. C.A.NO. CASE CAPTION NV 2 06-01351 CO 1 06-01110 Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado, LLC et al v. Oneok Inc. et al (MDL 1566) NV 2 05-01331 KS 2 05-02389 Reorganized FLI, Inc. v. Williams Companies, Inc., et al MDL 1566 NV 2 06-00233 KS 2 05-02513 Learjet, Inc. v. Oneok, Inc. - MDL 1566 NV 2 07-00987 MOW 5 07-06048 Heartland Regional Medical Center et al v. Oneok, Inc. et al - MDL 1566 NV 2 06-00267 OKN 4 05-00435 Sinclair Oil Corporation v. e prime Inc. et al MDL 1566 NV 2 07-01019 WIW 3 07-00076 Arandell Corp. et al v. Xcel Energy Inc. et al MDL 1566 NV 2 09-00915 WIW 3 09-00240 NewPage Wisconsin System Inc. v. CMS Energy Resource Management Company et al NV 2 06-00282 WY 1 Sinclair Oil Corporation v. Oneok Energy Services Co. MDL 1566 05-00254

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?