It’s been nearly 6 years, but consumer and truck driver protection groups have won a landmark settlement in the controversial “hot fuel” legal debate.
In 2006, the Kansas City Star wrote a series of stories about the issue, estimating that hot fuel cost consumers $2.3 billion dollars a year. With today’s fuel prices, that would be as much as $3.5 billion. After the Star’s reports, class-action lawsuits sprouted up against dozens of companies, including oil giants and fuel-station chains.
Three big oil companies BP Products North America Inc., ConocoPhillips Co. and Shell Oil Products US, are choosing to settle.