Canfield v. Statoil USA Onshore Properties INC et al

Filing 153

ORDER (memorandum filed previously as separate docket entry)motion for preliminary approval of the parties settlement agreement and appointment of class representatives and class counsel, (Doc. 101), is GRANTED. (See order for details and deadlines).Final Approval Hearing set for 10/16/2020 10:30 AM in Scranton before Honorable Malachy E Mannion.Signed by Honorable Malachy E Mannion on 7/8/20. (bs)

Case 3:16-cv-00085-MEM Document 153 Filed 07/08/20 Page 1 of 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
ANGELO R. RESCIGNO, SR.,
AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE
OF CHERYL B. CANFIELD,
Plaintiff

:
:

STATOIL USA ONSHORE
PROPERTIES INC.,

CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:16-85

:

v.

:

(JUDGE MANNION)

:
:

Defendant
ORDER
In accordance with the memorandum issued this same day, IT IS
HEREBY ORDERED THAT Rescigno’s motion for preliminary approval of the
parties’ settlement agreement and appointment of class representatives and
class counsel, (Doc. 101), is GRANTED as follows:
(1) The class referenced in the parties’ settlement agreement, (Doc.
137), is preliminarily certified as a settlement class as follows:
Royalty Owners in Northern Pennsylvania who have
entered into oil and gas leases, regardless of the type
of lease, that provide that the Royalty Owner is to be
paid Royalties and to whom [SOP] has (or had) an
obligation to pay Royalties on production attributable
to [SOP]’s working interest. All named plaintiffs are
preliminarily appointed as class representatives for
the settlement class;

Case 3:16-cv-00085-MEM Document 153 Filed 07/08/20 Page 2 of 3

(2) Robbins Gellar Rudman & Dowd LLP, The Clark Law Firm, P.C,
and Chitwood Harley Harnes LLP are preliminarily approved as
class counsel;
(3) The settlement agreement, (Doc. 137), is preliminarily approved,
subject to final approval at a final fairness hearing;
(4) Gilardi & Co. LLC is preliminarily approved as the settlement
administrator;
(5) The proposed class notice form, attached to the settlement as
Exhibit A-1, (Doc. 137-2), is approved and shall be sent out
pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement;
(6) The following schedule and procedures for completing the final
approval process as set forth in the parties’ settlement
agreement are hereby approved as follows:
Deadline to mail notices (“the
Notice Date”)
Deadline to file motions in
support of final approval of
settlement, plan of
administration, and any
application(s) for attorneys’ fees
and expenses
Deadline to submit requests for
inclusion or objection to
settlement, plan of
administration, and/or attorneys’
fees and expenses
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Fourteen (14) calendar days
after entry of the court’s
preliminary approval order
Thirty-five (35) calendar days
prior to the final fairness hearing

Twenty-one (21) calendar days
prior to the final fairness hearing

Case 3:16-cv-00085-MEM Document 153 Filed 07/08/20 Page 3 of 3

Class counsel to provide SOP
copies of all requests for
exclusion
Deadline to file replies in
support of the settlement, plan
of administration, and/or any
attorneys’ fees and expenses;
and Deadline to file proof of
notice
Final fairness hearing

Fourteen (14) calendar days
prior to the settlement hearing
Seven (7) calendar days prior to
the settlement hearing

At the court’s convenience, but
no fewer than one-hundred
(100) days after the court’s
preliminary approval order

(7) The final approval hearing is hereby preliminarily set for October 16,
2020 at 10:30 a.m., in Courtroom 3, William J. Nealon Federal Building
& Courthouse, 235 N. Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18501; and
(8) In accordance with the above schedule provided by the parties, thirtyfive (35) days prior to the final fairness hearing, the parties shall file
motions and memoranda in support of final approval of the settlement
agreement.
s/ Malachy E. Mannion
MALACHY E. MANNION
United States District Judge
DATE: July 8, 2020
16-0085-05-ORDER

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