A federal judge in Santa Ana signed off Thursday, Sept. 14, on $95 million to settle all of the claims in class-action litigation involving the pipeline oil leak that gushed thousands of gallons of crude into the ocean off Huntington Beach in 2021, but with just one hitch.
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ordered all of the attorneys involved in the litigation with Amplify Energy to hammer out an agreement Thursday on a $2 million claim from the organizers of the annual Pacific Airshow, which was curtailed due to the oil leak in 2021.
Amplify’s attorneys wanted to put off the issue with the Pacific Airshow until Oct. 14, so they could do more research on whether the air show’s organizers should get a slice of the settlement earmarked for tourism businesses. The attorneys for the plaintiffs, however, said the matter was decided in an administrative hearing to deny the claim and that it was up to Carter to decide if the air show company should be included in the class.
The plaintiffs say any more delays hurt the claimants because it could hold up the payments to them. Amplify’s attorneys argued that putting the matter over to Oct. 14 would not delay the process of getting the checks out.
“Well, we’re all here,” Carter told the attorneys. “I don’t mean to inconvenience any of you, but why not work through it today. … We’re going to be one big happy family.”
Carter praised the overall settlements with Amplify and the shipping companies that damaged the pipeline.
“Getting $95 million back to the public so quickly is beneficial,” Carter said, adding it was much better than the anticipated seven years of litigation if it went to trial.
He especially appreciated how the attorneys worked out a way to get money to the waterfront tourism class when there were scant claims filed.
“You got more money to the class and cut your costs,” Carter said.
Carter signed off on $50 million in the settlement agreements with Amplify Energy in…
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