Frequently Asked Questions

Following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions "FAQs" (click on the question to see the answer)

1. Why did I receive Class notice?
2. What is this lawsuit about?
3. How do I know if I am part of the Class?
4. How do I remain a Class Member?
5. How do I get out of the Class?
6. Do I have a lawyer in this case?
7. What does the Proposed Settlement provide?
8. Can I object to or comment on the Proposed Settlement?
9. What happened at the Hearing on the Proposed Settlement?
10.When will payments be mailed?
11.How do I get more information about the class action?


1. Why did I receive Class notice?
Records show that you (or someone in your family) may have received a gas royalty payment from Noble (either directly from Noble or from Duke) on gas produced since January 1, 1997, from wells in the Greater Wattenberg Area (located in Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld Counties of Colorado).

A previous notice was sent in connection with the certification for trial of the class in Holman v. Patina Oil & Gas Corp. and SOCO Wattenberg Corp, Case No. 03 CV 9. Because Patina recently merged with Noble Energy Production, Inc., the Holman case is now known as Holman v. Noble Energy Production, Inc .

The Court sent you the Class notice to inform you of a Proposed Settlement of this class action which includes the Holman case and also the case of Wardell Family Partnership v. Noble Energy, Inc., Noble Energy Production, Inc. and SOCO Wattenberg Corp . Case No. 06 CV 734, Div. 4., which has been consolidated with the Holman case. The Class notice outlines the terms of the proposed Settlement, who is a Settlement Class Member, how Settlement monies will be paid, and how to comment on or object to the Proposed Settlement.

Judge Daniel S. Maus of the Weld County District Court, Colorado, is overseeing this class action.

The people who sued are called the “Plaintiffs,” and the companies they sued are called the “Defendants.”

2. What is this lawsuit about?
The Plaintiffs claim that Noble has underpaid royalties relating to gas produced by Noble from wells in the Greater Wattenberg Area in Colorado. The lawsuit claims that Noble inappropriately deducted from royalties certain costs Noble incurred to place the gas in a marketable condition and location. This includes certain post-wellhead expenses such as gathering and processing costs. The Plaintiffs asked Noble to pay money damages and to change its royalty deduction practices. Noble denies the Plaintiffs’ claims but has agreed to settle the class action because of the time and expense of continuing the lawsuit.

3. How do I know if I am part of the Class?
Receiving the Class notice does not guarantee that you are a Settlement Class Member and can get money from the proposed Settlement. The Settlement Class includes:

All individuals and entities, private or public, to whom Noble has paid or currently is paying Royalties (either directly or indirectly through Duke and either on its own behalf or on behalf of Other Working Interest Owners) under Leases on Natural Gas and Liquids produced since January 1, 1997, from wells located in Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer, and Weld Counties, Colorado, according to the business records maintained by Noble.

Excluded from the Settlement Class are:

(a)     The federal government;

(b)     Legally recognized Indian tribes;

(c)     Persons and entities who are plaintiffs or parties to settlements in Ace Royalties, LLC, et al. v. Noble Energy, Inc. and Noble Energy Production, Inc., Case No. 05-CV-5633 on the docket of the District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado, or are plaintiffs in Robert A. Davis, et. al. v. Patina Oil & Gas Corporation, Case No. 05-CV-3377 on the docket of the District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado;

(d)    Persons and entities who own a working interest in any well in the Subject Counties operated by Noble; and

(e)    Any person who currently serves as a judge in the Holman case, and their spouse.

 Some persons included in the Settlement Class definition may be deceased ("Deceased Class Members"). In order to assist the Settlement Administrator in the allocation and distribution of monies attributable to the interests of Deceased Class Members, the Class Notice is accompanied by an Heirship/Beneficiary Information Form ("Heirship Form"). If a Settlement Class Member believes that he or she is entitled to receive all, or some portion of the Settlement monies allocable to a Deceased Class Member, then the Settlement Class Member is requested, but not required, to mail to the Settlement Administrator a completed Heirship Form.

Noble/Patina Gas Royalties Settlement Administrator
P.O Box 131
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0131
1-800-804-1830

If you are a Settlement Class Member and the Judge approves the Proposed Settlement, you will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court and by the Court’s final resolution of the Settlement Class claims in the Action.

If you have any additional questions about whether you are part of the Class, please call (toll-free) 1-800-804-1830. Please do not contact the Court or Noble.

4. How do I remain a Class Member?
You do not need to do anything at this time to remain a Class member. By doing nothing and remaining a Class member, you will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court and by the Court’s final resolution of the Class claims in the Action.

5. How do I get out of the Class?
To exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must send a letter personally signed by you that includes all of the following:

•  Your name, address, and telephone number;
•  The name and number of the consolidated lawsuit: Holman v. Noble Energy          Production, Inc., Case No. 03 CV 9, Div 4, Weld County, District Court, Colorado.
  You can’t opt-out on the phone, by email, or at the website.
•   A statement that you want to be excluded from the Settlement Class.