CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — Mineral rights owners trying to sue EQT Corp. in Ritchie County over whether it underpaid on gas royalty claims can’t because they were part of a class action settlement.
That’s the ruling from U.S. District Court Judge John Preston Bailey, who normally is based in Wheeling but ruled out of Clarksburg on this case.
Bailey ruled that the mineral rights owners — Phillip K. Williams, Timothy A. Williams, Diana L. Weiss and Mahlon F. Harris — were part of the class action settlement that saw EQT pay out more than $50 million.
Bailey underscored that in class action cases, it isn’t necessary for notice to be given to everyone possibly involved individually. Rather, public notice, such as through legal ads, could qualify as sufficient notice, Bailey ruled, citing precedent.
That means the mineral rights owners are bound, at least for the gas royalty claims, to the same settlement as the class action. The court did say the Williamses and Harris could continue to pursue a Ritchie County lawsuit vs. EQT over natural gas liquids.