August, 2006
Settlement Monies from ConocoPhillips Paid to Royalty Owners

(August 25, 2006) Settlement checks totaling more than $18.9 million were sent on August 24, 2006 to more than 4,300 royalty and overriding royalty owners across the United States. Plaintiffs sued ConocoPhillips in 2000 for alleged underpayment of royalty due on natural gas liquids produced from the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico and processed at the New Blanco Plant near Bloomfield, New Mexico. ConocoPhillips agreed to settle the claims for $29.5 million. The district court approved the settlement and awarded attorneys' fees of $7 million from the settlement fund. Susman Godfrey partner Tom Paterson was co-lead counsel in the class action with the Gallegos Law Firm. Susman Godfrey partner Shawn Raymond worked extensively on the matter.