If you own, rent, or reside at property that is supplied with water by a private well that is located in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area, you may be eligible to receive benefits from a class action settlement
PR Newswire
PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 9, 2026
PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --
Lawsuit Background
A $6.2 million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against Madison Ranches, Inc. ("Madison Ranches" or "Defendant"). The lawsuit alleges that the various Defendants in the lawsuit, including Madison Ranches have contributed to the alleged contamination of groundwater and drinking water in the Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area ("LUBGWMA").
The lawsuit is known as Pearson et al. v. Port of Morrow et al., Case No. 2:26-cv-00632.
Who is included in the Settlement? The Settlement Class is defined as all Persons who own, rent, or reside at property that is supplied with water by a private well that is located in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area ("Settlement Class").
There are also non-settling defendants that have not settled in the lawsuit. For the non-settling defendants, there may be separate settlements, judgments, or class certification orders in the future, and you may be sent a separate notice at a later date.
Plaintiffs also have a separate-related lawsuit, Pearson et al. v. Amazon Data Services, Inc., Case No. 2:26-cv-00633, District of Oregon, and notice was recently provided for a settlement in that lawsuit.
Settlement Benefits
The Settlement Fund will provide the following:
If you own, rent, or reside at property that is supplied with water by a private well that is located in the LUBGWMA, you are part of the Settlement Class and will be able to apply to receive benefits from the Settlement at a later date.
The Settlement Fund will be used to pay for claims filed by members of the Settlement Class once the claims phase is started at a later date. You do not need to submit a claim form now. Notice will be sent when claim forms can be submitted at a later date.
Other Options
Opt-Out postmarked or emailed by December 8, 2026. Submit your opt-out if you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement. The Court will exclude any class members who request to opt-out, unless the Court decides otherwise.
Object by January 7, 2027. You may object to the Settlement if you do not opt-out. The Long Form Notice on the Settlement Website explains how to opt-out or object.
Do Nothing. You do not need to do anything now. If you do nothing, you will give up your legal rights to sue Madison Ranches about the Released Claims in this lawsuit and you will be bound by the Settlement, any judgments, and orders.
Fairness Hearing on March 22, 2027. The Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement, Class Counsel's attorneys' fees and reimbursement of costs and expenses, Service Awards, and any objections. You or your lawyer may ask to appear at the hearing, but are not required to do so.
This notice is a summary. Learn more at www.EasternOregonWaterSettlement.com, or call toll-free 1-877-318-7995.
Si desea recibir esta notificación en español, llámenos a 1-877-318-7995 o visite nuestra página web a www.EasternOregonWaterSettlement.com.
View original content:SOURCE United States District Court for the District of Oregon
