NEWARK
— Amerada Hess Corporation today
voluntarily settled a lawsuit filed in
September by the Attorney General’s
Office, with a portion of the settlement
proceeds funding an energy and motoring
assistance program for low-income residents,
Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Consumer
Affairs Director Kimberly Ricketts announced.
Amerada Hess is the only one of the three
oil companies named in the State’s
lawsuits to reach voluntary settlement
of the matter to date.
"This settlement,
first and foremost, is about protecting
the rights of our consumers," said
Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. "It
represents a cooperative understanding
between the State of New Jersey and Amerada
Hess that protects the interests of all
of our residents, and also benefits those
most in need - low-income families and
individuals on fixed incomes who have
been hit hard by rising energy prices."
"Our
goal is always to make sure that New Jersey
consumers get what they pay for,”
said Attorney General Harvey. “Gasoline
is essential to our lives and it must
be priced consistent with the law. Amerada
Hess showed good corporate citizenship
by reaching this settlement with our Office.
We expect other oil companies to follow
Hess’s lead.”
The Attorney General filed suit in September
against Amerada Hess, Motiva Shell, Sunoco
and various independent gas station operators
for alleged violations of the State Motor
Fuels Act and Consumer Fraud Act.
In settling the lawsuit, Amerada Hess
agreed to adhere to state law regarding
the pricing of gasoline. Both sides agreed
to settle the matter without an admission
of any violation having occurred.
Amerada
Hess has agreed to pay $372,391 in settlement.
These funds will be used to reimburse
state and county investigative and legal
costs.
A
portion of the funds will also be used
to fund future consumer protection initiatives
at the Division of Consumer Affairs, including
efforts to address the home heating needs
of seniors and low-income families in
New Jersey.
"At
its very core, the mission of the Division
of Consumer Affairs is the protection
of New Jersey’s consumers and, with
this settlement, we have done just that,"
said Kimberly Ricketts, Consumer Affairs
Director. "This is a good example
of how government and private industry
can work together in a productive and
beneficial manner."
Deputy
Attorney General Brian Brennan represented
the State in the settlement with Amerada
Hess.
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