California V. Vitol Class Action Settlement
This past July, California Attorney General Bob Bonta announced a $50 million settlement with gas trading firms, giving a chance for thousands of California residents and businesses to receive compensation.
The lawsuit alleges that Vitol and SK Energy Americas, Inc., along with parent company SK Trading International, engaged in unlawful trading activities leading to artificially high gasoline prices in California.
The class action lawsuit claims that Vitol, SK Energy Americas, and SK Trading International conspired together to manipulate the market for gasoline and gasoline blendstocks in California between February 20, 2015, and November 10, 2015. This conspiracy allegedly violated California’s Cartwright Act and Unfair Competition Law.
Vitol is an energy and commodities company, while SK Energy Americas and SK Trading International are related companies that provide energy and trading services.
The State of California argued that the defendant’s actions led to higher gasoline prices that unfairly impacted consumers and businesses. The defendants have denied any wrongdoing but have agreed to settle for $50 million to residents to avoid further litigation.
The settlement states that $37.5 million of the fund will be disbursed to injured consumers for the Cartwright Act violation, while the remaining $12.5 million will pay the penalty to California regulators under the Unfair Competition Law.
Class members who are California residents are eligible to receive equal compensation of the $37.5 million fund. Nonresident class members are eligible to receive an equal share of a separate $13.9 million settlement fund.
Who Qualifies and How Much Can You Claim?
Anyone who purchased gasoline in California between February 20, 2015, and November 10, 2015, can file a claim. Payments will not vary depending on the amount each class member spent on gasoline during that time.
To qualify, you need the following:
- California Residency: You need to have been a California resident between February 20, 2015, and November 10, 2015.
- Purchased Gas in Southern California: You need to have purchased gas in the following Southern California counties between February 20, 2015, and November 10, 2015:
- Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Imperial, and San Luis Obispo.
Please note, that if you are a nonresident who purchased gas on behalf of a business or an out-of-state visitor who was in California and purchased gas between February 18, 2015, and May 31, 2017, you may be eligible to receive compensation.
If you fit the above criteria, you can submit a claim.
The terms of the settlement and qualification standards are set forth in the class settlement notice and related paperwork. Please consult those documents to understand whether you qualify and what steps you must take to submit a claim. This page is not intended to provide legal advice.
How to Submit Your Claim
Californians have until January 8, 2025, to submit a claim form. If you’re eligible, submitting your claim form is simple:
- Gather your information: Have your driver’s license ready to provide proof of residency.
- Submit online: Visit the Submit a Claim page to complete the form. Follow the instructions and fill out the necessary information about your purchase(s).
- Deadline: Make sure to submit your claim by January 8, 2025.
By filing your claim, you’ll be a class action member and can potentially receive compensation for being unfairly impacted by artificially raised gasoline prices in California. This is your opportunity to join the California v. Vitol Class Action Settlement and receive compensation for any gasoline purchases made during the relevant period. Please refer to the settlement paperwork or consult an attorney if you have questions regarding the effect of submitting a claim.
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