From The Associated Press, 9/27/05:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-oil-companies-sued,0,696103.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
New Jersey Sues Three Oil Companies
By ANGELA DELLI SANTI
Associated Press Writer
TRENTON, N.J. --
New Jersey has sued three oil companies and several gas stations for
allegedly gouging drivers during Hurricane Katrina.
The lawsuits accuse Hess, Motiva Shell and Sunoco with artificially
inflating gas prices and for increasing prices more than the
once-a-day legal limit.
Independent gas station operators selling Hess, Shell, Sunoco and
Citgo brands were also sued.
"The goal here is to protect consumers' hard-earned money from
artificial inflation and economic exploitation," Attorney General
Peter C. Harvey said Monday.
"Some of these dealers were using Katrina to artificially inflate the
price, because there were sufficient supplies that this kind of
pricing did not have to occur."
The civil action is believed to be the first in the country in
response to recent rising gasoline prices.
The defendants are accused of violating New Jersey's motor fuels and
consumer fraud acts.
The investigation began after consumers started complaining about
steep and sudden rises in gas prices just before Labor Day weekend.
New Jersey gas prices hit their highest-ever levels on Labor Day at an
average of $3.16 per gallon of regular.
The complaint also claims that drivers were charged for more gasoline
than they received, or that they were charged for premium gas but
given regular.
The lawsuits seek restitution for customers who were overcharged,
Harvey said.
Anne Peebles, a spokeswoman for Motiva Shell, said she did not know of
the lawsuit but said the company does not "condone price-gouging and
we work closely with local officials in any investigation."
Jay Wilson, a vice president at Hess, said he hadn't seen the suit and
would not comment.
Sunoco did not return calls.
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Oil companies can certainly afford the fines, but it's refreshing
anyway.
Harry
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