EDMOND, Okla. – More than a dozen Edmond residents have joined a lawsuit against Devon Energy and other energy companies, claiming negligence and liability when it comes to disposal wells.
Right now, 14 people are suing, and the numbers could go up.
The lawsuit specifically references two major Edmond earthquakes, one in late December, the other just days ago.
“The earthquakes that occurred on December 29th and January 1st caused damage to property and to people who resided in the homes of our clients, and we have brought suit on that basis,” Garvin Issacs, one of the attorneys on the case, said.
Issacs has been practicing law in Oklahoma City for over 20 years, now he’s taking on a case that’s not only a first for him, but for the county.
“Mother Earth has spoke (sic) to us, and when people are injured and their property is injured by earthquakes, you have to examine and see what is the cause of the earthquakes,” Issacs said.
In a new lawsuit filed Monday against multiple oil companies, including Devon Energy, Pedestal Oil, and New Dominion, the petition alleges “reckless disregard for the consequences to others, defendants injected large volumes of drilling waste in disposal wells…”
The petition goes on to say, Defendants were negligent, careless and reckless, by “failing to warn others, including Plaintiffs, of the earthquake dangers associated with injecting drill waste beneath earth’s subsurface…”
“The potential for a 7 on the Richter scale is out there, and that’s what the seismologists have said, and that is the most alarming thing to me, that could destroy our whole state,” Issacs said.
Whether these companies are guilty or not, he wants to leave it in the hands of Oklahomans.
“The jury decides the case, and at this time, we have filed it and we’re in the position of preparing for trial, and we want to get this case tried as soon as possible,” Issacs said.
The petition claims the oil companies listed “knew or should have known [their actions] would result in an increased likelihood that earthquakes or other adverse environmental impacts would occur, thereby unreasonably endangering the health, safety and welfare of persons and property including Plaintiffs and others.”
This is the first lawsuit of its kind in Oklahoma County.
Click here to read the full petition.
It specifically refers to the Dec. 29 and Jan. 1 earthquakes centered in Edmond, Oklahoma.
We did get a statement from Devon Energy saying in part “it would be inappropriate to comment on pending litigation.”
Issacs and his co-counsler, David Poarch, urge anyone with earthquake damages to give them a call.
