MADISON, Wis. -- Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager said that her office is filing seven lawsuits against owners of Wisconsin gas stations for alleged violations of a state consumer protection law requiring posted gasoline prices remain in effect for at least 24 hours.
According to the complaint, the stations increased their gasoline prices within a 24hour period, in some cases less than an hour after previous price changes.
This law was enacted to protect Wisconsin consumers who might otherwise be subjected to artificial price [image-nocss] fluctuations or even price-gouging in the event of an emergency or actual shortage of gasoline, Lautenschlager said.
The complaints are against:
Bulk Petroleum Corp., S I Petroleum LLC and Mirza Wasim Akhtar (Dane County), four violations. Holiday Stationstores Inc. (Vilas County), 15 violations. Krist Oil Co., (Marinette County), 10 violations. Lang Oil Inc. (Winnebago County), six violations. Marathon Petroleum Co. LLC and Speedway SuperAmerica LLC (Dane County), six violations. Murphy Oil Corp., Murphy Oil USA Inc. and Murphy USA Marketing Co. (Crawford County), 25 violations. Schierl Inc., aka Team Schierl Cos., dba The Store (Wood County), 35 violations.Most of the alleged violations occurred in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina.
Wisconsin law requires that every wholesaler or any entity selling or distributing motor fuel in the state keep posted, in a conspicuous place, the net selling price per gallon of all grades of motor fuel and the amount of all taxes per gallon. Under the law, all prices posted shall remain in effect for at least 24 hours. The law provides up to $200 in forfeitures per violation.
In addition to forfeitures, the state is requesting the defendants be enjoined from further violations and repay Wisconsin consumers, where possible, the amounts owed.
The cases were investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, which received complaints from consumers regarding the price changes.
Lautenschlager said she continues to support the enactment of anti-price gouging legislation in Wisconsin.
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