![]() ![]() agreed to a settlement for two locations in Clinton.īill Weigel said his Knoxville-area chain struggled to maintain supplies following Gustav and Ike and attempted to buy gas from any source at "greatly increased" prices to keep customers supplied. Rocky Top Markets settled gouging charges involving eight East Tennessee stores, and Git 'N Go Inc. Magnolia Ave., 314 Lovell Road and 400 E. Similar charges were made against Pilot at its 410 Merchants Road, 3004 E. The state is seeking a ruling that Weigel's violated state law, plus fines and restitution. In its lawsuit against Weigel Stores filed Thursday in Knox County Chancery Court, the state accuses the longtime Powell convenience store operator of advertising gas at those locations from $4.50 to $5.20 a gallon, depending on the grade of gas, although it paid between $3.20 and $4.25 a gallon. ![]() Emory Road, 9541 Kingston Pike, 12001 Kingston Pike and 1325 N. The Weigel's locations involved are at 6802 Central Avenue Pike, 6921 Kingston Pike, 12640 Kingston Pike, 331 E. ![]() "While settling would have cost a lot less than fighting the Attorney General's lawsuit, we did not overcharge our customers, and we are not going to sign a settlement agreement that implies that we mistreated our customers," Weigel said Weigel said his company fully cooperated with the state investigation and doesn't understand how it can be accused of gouging when it had little or no gas to sell at that time. Other states also conducted price-gouging investigations, and Pilot recently settled similar complaints in Kentucky and Georgia. The attorney general's investigation began last fall after consumers complained that some gas stations unfairly raised gas prices after hurricanes Gustav and Ike battered the Gulf refineries. The curtailed fuel shipments arose when Ike knocked out Gulf Coast oil refineries and disrupted pipeline supplies into Knoxville. The state claims that seven Weigel's stores engaged in gouging in the days following Hurricane Ike last September as Tennessee and other Southeastern states were hit with severe fuel shortages. The defendants who settled advertised and sold regular unleaded gasoline at prices ranging from $4.69 to $5.98 per gallon, according to the attorney general. Other businesses agreeing to settle the price-gouging complaint are Caryville Amoco BP, Stop 'n Go Market in Morristown, Lovell Shell in Knoxville, Big D's Shell in Clinton, Seven Star Stop in Johnson City, Fun Foods in Harriman, Rock Hill Grocery in Rogersville, Lacy's Market in Mount Juliet, Speedy Market and Chally Wally in Winchester, Shady Valley Country Store in Shady Valley, Burnett's Fuel Center in Allardt and Adam's Lakeside Market in Estill Springs. As part of the settlement agreement, the companies deny any wrongdoing and maintain that they settled to avoid the time and expense of litigation. of Clinton, agreed to pay civil penalties totaling $40,000 and restitution to consumers of more than $73,400. and Pilot Travel Centers of Knoxville, Rocky Top Markets of Kingston and Git 'N Go Inc. The 16 other companies, including Pilot Corp. The state says Weigel Stores violated the Price Gouging Act of 2002 and the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. Weigel Stores Inc., which is one of 17 companies and individuals owning 34 gasoline stations in East and Middle Tennessee accused by Cooper of illegally increasing gas prices last fall during a hurricane-related gas shortage, has decided to fight the allegations in court. Longtime Knoxville convenience store operator Bill Weigel has one question for state Attorney General Bob Cooper: "How can we gouge customers if we had no gas?"
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