Attorney General Jim Hood Takes it to the Gas Gougers

Attorney General Jim Hood continues to fight for all Mississipians and for the betterment of this state. Jim Hood has gotten 5 companies to pay a settlement for taking advantage of Mississippians following Hurricane Katrina.

LegalNewsline Reports:

Hood investigated seven companies, and the five that settled paid a total of $293,254.61, most of that amount coming in the form of penalties. Fair Oil and Wilburn Oil were the two that did not settle.

(Using part of the money)"We are taking an in depth look at the retail gasoline industry within Mississippi by conducting a market study with the assistance of the Economics Department of Mississippi State University," Hood said. "This will give us a significant tool to determine whether anything illegal is occurring and if so, what laws are being broken. This will be a major investigatory tool if price gouging is suspected in the future."

The breakdown of penalties (also from LegalNewsline) is as follows:
-Sumrall Oil: $54,849.51
Disgorgement $4,003.14
Penalties $40,000
Cost and Fees $7,287.29

-Prince Oil: $65,165.79
Disgorgement $9,591.01
Penalties $41,000
Cost and Fees $14,574.78

-Spaceway: $36,086.74
Disgorgement $2,799.45
Penalties $26,000
Cost and Fees $7,287.29

-Southern Oil: $62,861.94
Disgorgement $9,574.65
Penalties $46,000
Cost and Fees $7,287.29

-Moak Petroleum: $74,290.63
Disgorgement $4,003.14
Penalties $63,000
Cost and Fees $7,287.49