| Orko |
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| quote: | The State of New Jersey has sued three oil companies and several gas stations for allegedly gouging consumers 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 civil action is believed to be the first in the U.S. responding to recent rising gasoline prices.
"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."
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The investigation began after consumers started complaining about sudden rises in gas prices just before Labour Day weekend.
The suits also claim that drivers were charged for more gasoline than they received, or that they were charged for premium gas but given regular.
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."
Fines are up $10,000 US for Consumer Fraud Act violations and up to $200 for violating the Motor Fuels Act.
The lawsuit comes as eight Democratic governors asked U.S. President George W. Bush and congressional leaders to investigate possible gasoline price gouging in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
In a letter, the governors urged an investigation into "excessive profits being made by oil companies who are taking advantage of this national crisis." |
A few things that cought:
- fines up to $10,000??? That is nothing compared to how much they must have made by infalting gas prices!!!
- Allegations that the companies were giving customer regular when they paid for premium...talk about kicking somebody while they are down! Atleast give people what they paid for! |
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