What is this class action lawsuit about?

Slater Vecchio LLP has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Parkland Fuel Corporation, Suncor Energy Inc, Imperial Oil Limited, Shell Canada Limited, and Husky Energy Inc on behalf of all persons who have purchased gasoline at a retail gas station or cardlock facility, but not including “co-op” branded gasoline stations and cardlock facilities, in British Columbia since January 1, 2015.

The lawsuit alleges that the oil companies who control the supply of wholesale gasoline to retail gas stations and cardlock facilities abused their position and secretly arranged with one another to overcharge retail purchasers of gasoline.

A copy of the Oil Company class action lawsuit is available here.

How were retail gas prices affected?

A 2019 British Columbia Utilities Commission Inquiry concluded that since 2015 the price of gasoline has diverged substantially from what would be expected in a competitive market. The lawsuit alleges that the oil companies named therein engaged in a pricing scheme that resulted in higher retail gas prices at the pump.

Because the oil companies named in the lawsuit were effectively the only wholesale suppliers of gasoline to the retail market in British Columbia, they were able to set the wholesale price of gasoline so as to inflate the price of gasoline at the retail level.

Who is affected?

All persons who purchased gasoline in British Columbia from any gas station or cardlock facility, except “co-op” branded gas stations and cardlock facilities, between January 1, 2015 and the date this action is certified as a class proceeding.

Directors and officers of the defendant oil companies and their families, legal counsel for the parties, case management judges, trial judges, and their immediate families are excluded from participating in the class action.

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This page will be updated regularly, please check back for the latest news on this class action case.