Description: Class action lawsuit brought by West Virginia landowners against companies who allegedly failed to promptly plug abandoned gas wells.
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McEvoy v. Diversified Energy Co.
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 07/15/2022 Complaint Download First amended class action complaint filed. 07/08/2022 Complaint Download Class action complaint filed. West Virginia Landowners’ Class Action Sought Damages for Failure to Plug Abandoned Gas Wells. Private landowners in West Virginia filed a class action complaint in the federal district court for the Northern District of West Virginia, contending that defendant companies’ failure to promptly plug abandoned gas wells caused injuries. The complaint alleged that one group of defendant companies (the “Diversified” companies) owned at least 2,168 abandoned wells, including more than 700 wells transferred by the second group of defendants (the “EQT” defendants) in 2018 and additional wells transferred by EQT in 2020. The complaint alleged that the “unlawful presence of these abandoned wells interferes with Plaintiffs’ use and enjoyment of their properties, lowers their property values, and poses health and environmental hazards.” The complaint also alleged that the wells “leak significant amounts of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.” The plaintiffs alleged causes of action for trespass, nuisance, and negligence and for avoidance and recovery of fraudulent transfer. They sought damages as well as the creation of funds to be used to plug and decommission class members’ wells.