IMPORTANT! If you live in Hamilton County, look for a plain white 4″ X 6″ piece of mail like the one pictured above.

In the upper left-hand corner, in tiny print, the return addressee is “Williams v. Duke Energy.” Don’t throw this envelope away!  It contains a settlement check from Duke. The people we have spoken with have received checks for roughly $140, although the amount may vary.

Why is Duke issuing checks to customers?

Duke is sending settlement money to customers as a result of the class action lawsuit —  Williams et al vs. Duke Energy Class Action Suit.  In that suit, it was alleged that Duke Energy Ohio violated federal racketeering and antitrust laws, as well as state racketeering and common law claims.   Duke denies these allegations, and maintains that they did not engage in any wrongdoing.  Duke agreed to pay an $81 million settlement.  For more details, see http://dukeclassaction.com/.

I received my check.  Now what should I do?

Of course, you can cash the check and spend the money in any way you like.

But in light of Duke’s plan to run a high-pressure natural gas pipeline straight through densely-populated areas, please consider allocating your settlement check to NOPE.

Send Duke a Message…

We do not believe a pipeline of this size and scale belongs in any of our densely populated residential areas.  If an accident were to occur, the consequences could be devastating. NOPE is working to make sure that does not happen!

Your settlement check would not only support our legal efforts but could also send an important message to Duke: Invest in keeping our families and communities safe.

HERE is how you can assign your settlement money from Duke to support the work of NOPECincy

Many Duke Customers will receive legal settlement checks in the coming weeks. If you have received a check, please consider donating these funds to NOPECincy’s pipeline opposition efforts.

For almost a year, we have told Duke that this pipeline does not belong in densely populated residential areas.  Citizens like you have communicated concerns through thousands of letters and petitions, phone calls and in-person meetings. Elected officials, local governments, employers, religious leaders and your friends and neighbors have heard you and share your concerns.  Unfortunately,

 Duke does not seem to be responding to concerns of the people they are supposed to be serving.

Make your concerns and objections LOUDER.  Leverage your financial support, in a way that will make Duke take notice.  Use Duke’s settlement checks to help support NOPE’s pipeline opposition intervention case.  

Our goal is to raise $50,000 for legal fees, expert witnesses and continuing to and advocate for all of our communities and citizens impacted by the pipeline. Thanks to your contributions, we are about halfway to our goal.

According to dukeclassaction.com, the Residential Settlement Fund could be as much as $25 million dollars.  All we need is 0.5 percent of those funds to reach our $50,000 goal.  Residential customers are expected to receive $40-$400. Several residents we spoke with received $140.87.  If 200 people signed over their settlement checks to NOPE’s opposition fund, we could meet our goal.  Please be one of them!

What you need to do:

1. Watch for the check in the mail. It may be easy for you to miss, as several people have commented that it looks like junk mail.  HERE is what it looks like.

2. Endorse the check by signing the back and adding “pay to the order of NOPE, LLC”.  HERE is an example. 

3. Mail to: NOPECiny.org, c/o Glenn Rosen, Treasurer, 9228 Bluewing Terrace,  Blue Ash, OH  45236   OR  If you’d prefer to make a donation via credit card, or to learn more, visit NOPECincy’s GoFundMe page