Ohio Electricity Litigation
The information contained on this website is only a summary. You may download a copy of the full Notice by clicking here. Since this website is just a summary, you should review the Notice for additional details.
To provide an updated address to the Settlement Administrator, send an email to info@OhioElectricityLitigation.com. Please be sure to include the email address and/or Notice ID and mailing address where you received the Notice.
Pursuant to the Order, digital payments will be issued via email to Settlement Class Members with payments of $250.00 or less, physical Mastercards will be sent by US Mail to Settlement Class Members without a valid email address, and all payments greater than $250.00 are being mailed a check. The distribution is expected to be completed by the end of August.
What is the lawsuit about? A class action lawsuit styled Smith v. FirstEnergy Corp., et al., Case No. 2:20-cv-3755, is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (the “Court”), and a similar lawsuit styled Emmons v. FirstEnergy Corp., et al., Case No. CV-20 935557, is pending in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuits claim, among other matters, that Defendants FirstEnergy, FirstEnergy Service, Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison, Cleveland Electric, Charles E. Jones, James F. Pearson, Steven E. Strah, K. Jon Taylor, and Michael J. Dowling (together, the “FirstEnergy Settling Parties”), and Energy Harbor engaged in a racketeering scheme in order to influence the passage of HB 6, thus causing some Ohio residents to pay excessive charges for electricity. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968, the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act (“OCPA”), and other common and statutory law. A copy of the Plaintiffs’ Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint is available on the Court Documents page of this website. Defendants deny any liability, and the Court has not made any decision on the merits of the Plaintiffs’ claims.
Who is included? You may be a member of the Settlement Class if you paid to Toledo Edison, Cleveland Electric, or Ohio Edison any rates, charges, fees, tolls, or other costs pursuant to HB 6 or any recovery mechanism approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) pursuant to HB 6 from January 1, 2020 through June 22, 2022.
What do the Settlements provide? Plaintiffs, FirstEnergy and Energy Harbor reached Settlements on behalf of the Settlement Class that includes a monetary payment of $49,000,000 to the Settlement Class. In exchange for the Settlement payment, the members of the Settlement Class will release any claims they have against the Defendants that relate to or arise out of HB 6 or the allegations and claims in this case.
IMPORTANT DATES
Exclusion Deadline
October 5, 2022
Objection/Notice of Appearance Deadline
October 5, 2022
Fairness Hearing
November 9, 2022 at 9:30 p.m.
| YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS AND DEADLINES FOR YOU TO ACT | |
|---|---|
| EXCLUDE YOURSELF FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS | If you wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must submit a written request postmarked no later than October 5, 2022. If you exclude yourself, you will not be bound by future decisions of the Court and will not be entitled to recover your proportionate share of the Settlement Fund. |
| DO NOTHING | You are automatically part of the Settlement Class if you fit the Settlement Class description. By remaining in the Settlement Class, you will receive your proportionate share of the Settlement Fund, and you will give up rights to be part of any other lawsuit that asserts claims related to the allegations or claims against the FirstEnergy Settling Parties and Energy Harbor in this case. |
| OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT | Do not exclude yourself. Write to the Court and explain what you do not like about the Settlement. The objection deadline is October 5, 2022. Additional information is available in the Notice. |
| GO TO A HEARING | Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement. Your notice of intention to appear at the Final Approval Hearing must be postmarked no later than October 5, 2022 . Additional information is available in the Notice. |
These rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in the Notice.
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the Settlement. Payments will be made if the Court approves the Settlement and after appeals are resolved. Please be patient.
