Hagens Berman and Co-Counsel Resolve Oregon Groundwater Claims With Lamb Weston for $25 Million

Hagens Berman and co-counsel Bliven Law Firm and Heenan & Cook resolved groundwater claims in Oregon's Lower Umatilla Basin Ground Water Management Area with Lamb Weston Holdings and its subsidiary Lamb Weston, Inc., which will pay $25 million into a settlement fund, Business Wire reported on November 12, 2026. Lamb Weston continues to dispute the claims.

How the Lamb Weston Settlement Fund Works

The fund is intended to help homeowners and others obtain property enhancements including deeper wells, water filtration systems, and funds to pay water bills for residents who connect to city water systems. Lamb Weston will also continue using water management best practices in line with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality requirements and recommendations, including practices related to nitrogen management. The company said reaching a resolution allows it to focus resources on advancing practical, long-term solutions for the region.

"We appreciate Lamb Weston's commitment to the community reflected in this settlement," said Steve Berman, managing partner and founder of Hagens Berman and co-counsel for the proposed class of plaintiffs. "Our work, however, is not over, and we will continue working with the remaining defendants." The agreement resolves the contested litigation involving Lamb Weston, while claims against other defendants remain.

The LUBGWMA was created by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in 1990 to address elevated nitrate levels found in drinking water. It covers 562 square miles in northern Morrow and Umatilla counties and is home to approximately 45,000 residents, including thousands with private wells.

Hagens Berman's Litigation Record

Hagens Berman is a privately held U.S. plaintiffs' class-action law firm founded in 1993 that represents consumers, investors, employees and whistleblowers in class actions against corporate defendants on a contingency fee basis, with offices across the U.S. and in London and Paris, according to akta.pro company records. The same records value its total victories and settlements at more than $345 billion for class members and clients, and list the $22.78 billion NCAA Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness antitrust settlement as the largest antitrust settlement in U.S. history.

Earlier Hagens Berman Cases

On October 28, 2026, Hagens Berman announced a $212.5 million settlement with Zillow in a securities class action, potentially the largest single securities settlement in the Western District of Washington, FinancialContent Business Page reported. On October 2, 2026, a U.S. magistrate judge recommended certifying a class of over 30 million consumers in an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon and five major e-book publishers, with the report finding Amazon customers paid over $740 million more than in a competitive market, FinancialContent Business Page reported. On November 6, 2026, consumers filed a class-action lawsuit against McDonald's alleging it mislabeled eight McCafé beverages as "sugar free" despite containing up to 18 grams of sugar per serving, FinancialContent Business Page reported.

What Comes Next for Residents

Residents do not need to take any action at this time. If the court grants preliminary approval of the settlement, a settlement website will be established by a court-appointed settlement administrator, and eligible residents will be notified with further information.