Settlement Structure: Claims Made
Active: Closed
Closed Settlement Statement:
According to court documents, the claim submission deadline has passed. Please contact the claims administrator if you have any questions.
Case Summary:Plains All American Pipeline, LP and Plains Pipeline, LP are settling a class action alleging they caused the rupture of an underground pipeline, creating an oil spill along the coastline around Santa Barbara County, California on May 19, 2015, with oil washing up on coastal properties and beaches.
The complaint alleged the oil spill caused residents of coastal homes to lose the use and enjoyment of their homes and caused damage to the fishing industry. A 138-square-mile zone was closed to fishing for 41 days, and the complaint alleged the oil spill also did long-term damage to the area’s fishing industry, creating losses for both commercial fishers and fish processors.
2:15-cv-04113
Company: Plains All American Pipeline
Filing Deadline: October 31, 2022
Class Period: May 19, 2015
Objection Deadline: August 19, 2022
Final Approval Hearing: September 16, 2022
Proof of Purchase:Property Class: The Claim Form does not request documentation, although it notes that the Settlement Administrator may require you to provide more information later.
Fisher Class: CDFW landing records will be used to determine eligibility and amount of payment. You do not need to submit documentation unless it is needed to verify identity, establish membership in the class, or resolve disputes. If you are not identified in CDFW landing records, you may submit documentation. See the Claim Form for further details.
You may be eligible if you belong to either of the following classes:
The Property Class is all those who owned or leased residential beachfront properties on a beach or with a private easement to a beach where oil from the 2015 spill washed up and the oiling was categorized as heavy, moderate, or light.
The Fisher Class is all commercial fishers or fish processors as follows:
- Commercial fishers: All persons and businesses who owned or worked on a vessel that was in operation as of May 19, 2015 and that (1) landed any commercial seafood in California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) fishing blocks 654, 655, or 656; or (2) landed any commercial seafood, except groundfish or highly migratory species in CDFW fishing blocks 651-656, 664-670, 678-686, 701-707, 718-726, 739-746, 760-765, or 806-809, from May 19, 2010 to May 19, 2015.
- Fish processors: All persons and businesses in operation as of May 19, 2015 who bought commercial seafood directly from Commercial Fishers and resold it at the retail or wholesale level.
You are no longer a member of the classes if you previously excluded yourself or if you entered into a separate settlement with Plains for which you signed a full release.
Typical Settlement Amount:Payments will be based on plans of distribution for the classes. Fisher Class payments will be made for each year between 2015 and 2020 in which you suffered harm. To receive a payment, you must not already have received a payment and fully released your claims against Plains. Partial payments will be treated as offsets for current payments.
Total Settlement Amount: $46 million Property Class Settlement; $184 million Fisher Class Settlement
Class Representative Proposed Incentive Fee:Up to $15,000 each
Law Firms:
Cappello & Noel
Keller Rohrback
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
Claim Form: Plains Oil Spill Settlement Claim Forms
Case Name: Andrews et al. v. Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. et al.,
Settlement Website: Plains Oil Spill Settlement Website
Claims Administrator:
JND Legal Administration
Plains Oil Spill Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91450
Seattle, WA 98111
info@PlainsOilSpillSettlement.com
1-844-202-9486