JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said earlier this month that he has filed lawsuits against two companies for multiple violations of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act and the Price Gouging statute in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He filed suits against Wilburn Oil, Tupelo (filed in Lee County Chancery Court) and Fair Oil, Louisville (in Winston County Chancery Court).
Five petroleum distributors fully cooperated, gave us their documents, paid a penalty to be used in part to develop a brochure explaining oil pricing [image-nocss] and to engage the Economics Department at Mississippi State to conduct a market study to track today's oil prices to help us detect fuel price-fixing, said Hood. It is unfortunate that Wilburn Oil and Fair Oil have refused to cooperate, even though they were caught red-handed increasing their profits by over 25% during a time when people were fleeing from a hurricane. I hope that the courts will severely punish these despicable acts accordingly.
The defendants face maximum penalties of up to $10,000 per sale. The case will be prosecuted by lawyers from the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General, which will also seek restitution and attorney fees and costs.
Click here to view the brochure, which was developed in conjunction with the Economics Department at Mississippi State University.
In May, Kentucky AG Greg Stumbo filed litigation against Marathon Oil Corp., Marathon Petroleum Co. LLC and Speedway SuperAmerica LLC, charging the corporations with profiteering during the time of emergency following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The companies allegedly overcharged Kentucky consumers more than $89 million in grossly excessive motor fuel pricing.
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