Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

1991

Year Resolved

1993

Settlement Amount

$47,000 in heating oil

Court

U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Docket Number

3:91 CV-00173-PCD

Lead State

CT

Participating States

CT

Defendant(s)

BPS Petroleum Distributors, Inc., Mary Randall, Oyster River Petroleum,
Inc., Edward Granfield, Ralph Caruso, American Fuel Oil

Case Description

Plaintiff state alleged that, beginning in September 1990 or before, several home heating oil distributors overcharged
consumers thousands of dollars for home heating oil by conspiring to set artificially
high prices. The settlement requires that the defendants refrain from entering into, attempting to enter into, or suggesting others enter into any conspiracy or agreement to fix, raise establish or stabilize prices. The agreement also enjoins defendants from communicating with any other person engaged in the retail sale of home heating oil about any aspect of either party’s home heating oil price. The lawsuit made claims under federal and state law, including Connecticut’s parens patriae jurisdiction on behalf of Connecticut’s residents.