The natural gas provider Infinite Energy is facing a potential class action lawsuit representing more than 600 Korean American drycleaners. The suit alleges the utility company defrauded the businesses by locking them into exorbitant prices over 3-year contracts that were signed when energy costs spiked immediately following Hurricane Katrina.
The 2 drycleaners who filed the suit are members of the Korean Cleaners' Association of Atlanta (KCAA), and they asked that the case be granted class action for theirs and other similar associations. According to the allegations, Infinite Energy has tried to hold all members of the KCAA to the higher rates despite the plaintiffs' formal attempts to renegotiate the contract and despite the fact that many members never agreed to the new rate.
The suit seeks more than $5 million in damages, as well as punitive damages and a permanent injunction.
