The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s (AG) Office has reached a $5.3 million settlement with Chesapeake Energy Corp. to resolve claims that the company deceived landowners and underpaid royalties on natural gas production.

Chesapeake

The settlement, which comes more than five years after the state filed a lawsuit, requires Chesapeake to pay restitution to landowners in Northeast Pennsylvania and another $350,000 to the AG’s office to cover legal expenses. AG Josh Shapiro also said the settlement would better protect landowners that have leases with Chesapeake going forward. 

“The bottom line here is that this settlement will end the abuse from Chesapeake and allow landowners to take a new lease with no deductions,” Shapiro said.

The state filed the complaint against Chesapeake in...