California Gasoline Price Lawsuits Settled for Combined $63.9 Million

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Several multinational gasoline trading firms have agreed to settle two lawsuits that alleged they manipulated gas prices in California, causing residents, businesses and visitors to pay more than they should have for fuel.

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One of the deals is a $50 million settlement that resolves a lawsuit filed in May 2020 by the Attorney General of California filed against Vitol Inc., SK Energy Americas, Inc. and SK Trading International Co. Ltd.

According to the official website for that settlement, VLC.CalGasLitigation.com, $37.5 million will be distributed to consumers as compensation, minus deductions for taxes, administration costs, and attorneys’ fees. The remaining $12.5 million will be assessed to the defendants as a penalty under California’s Unfair Competition Law and used by state and local governments to enforce consumer protection laws, the website relays.

The Attorney General gas settlement covers any California resident who purchased gasoline at retail in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and/or Imperial Counties between February 20, 2015 and November 10, 2015.

The second deal totals $13,930,000 and will end a class action lawsuit also filed in May 2020 against Vitol Inc., SK Energy Americas, Inc. and SK Trading International Co. Ltd., as well as two individuals, Brad Lucas and David Niemann.

The official website for the class action settlement, CALG.CalGasLitigation.com, says the deal has received preliminary approval from the court, and covers any business or out-of-state visitor who bought gasoline in California at retail for their own use and not for resale between February 18, 2015, and May 31, 2017.

Those covered by either gas settlement have until January 8, 2025 to file a claim form for compensation, which they can submit by mail or online through the respective settlement website.

If you’re a California resident covered by the Attorney General settlement, head to this page to submit a claim form online. You may also download a PDF claim form to return by mail.

“The amount of the payment will depend on how many valid claims are received,” the site says.

If you’re a business or non-California resident covered by the class action settlement, head to this page to submit a claim form online. Submissions by third-party filers will not be accepted, the site says. You may also download a PDF claim form for businesses or consumers to return by mail.

“The amount of your cash award depends, in part, on how much Gasoline you purchased and where, whether you are a business or a non-California resident, and how many others qualify for a cash recovery,” the class action settlement site says.

Payments to eligible businesses are estimated to range from $580 to $1,161, and payments to eligible consumers are estimated to range from $3.84 to $11.53.

Settlement payments will begin to be distributed after the deals receive final approval from the court.

A final settlement approval hearing for the California Attorney General settlement is scheduled for February 28, 2025. A final settlement approval hearing for the antitrust class action settlement is scheduled for February 20, 2025.

Are you owed unclaimed settlement money? Check out our class action rebates page full of open class action settlements.