Oklahoma Woman Hurt In Earthquake Settles Lawsuit Against Oil, Gas Firms

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Sandra Ladra, of Prague, Oklahoma, reached a settlement in her lawsuit against two oil and natural gas companies, who she said were liable for injuries she suffered in a 2011 earthquake. Ladra filed the lawsuit in 2014 against New Dominion LLC, Spess Oil Co. and 25 other unnamed companies, The Oklahoman reported.

The lawsuit said the companies operated wastewater disposal wells that caused a magnitude 5.7 earthquake and argued that's why they were liable. The quake crumbled Ladra's fireplace and caused rocks to fall on her knee, Ladra said.

The companies sought to get the lawsuit tossed, saying Ladra waited too long to file it.

Lincoln County District Court Judge Cynthia Ferrell Ashwood dismissed the case in October 2014, saying the district court does not have jurisdiction and that the case should instead be handled by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. But the Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed that decision in June 2015 and sent the case back to district court.

Court records showed the case was dismissed this month when Ladra reached a settlement with New Dominion. She reached a settlement with Spess Oil in July. Details of the settlements weren't disclosed.

Ladra's attorney, Scott Poynter, said he's also filed a potential class-action lawsuit for Prague resident Jennifer Lin Cooper. She also seeks damages related to the earthquake.

Cooper is seeking class-action status so she can include people whose homes or home values have been damaged by the earthquakes in Lincoln County and eight other counties that surround it.

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