Shell Oil Co.

New Orleans, LA: (Apr-10-07) A class action lawsuit filed against Shell Oil Co. over the 2004 sale of tainted gasoline reached a settlement with Shell agreeing to pay out over $3.7 million. The suit was brought on behalf of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida residents whose fuel gauges broke after they bought Shell Oil Co. gasoline made at its Norco refinery. Over several weeks starting in May 2004, the gas contained too much sulfur. When affected motorists began complaining, Shell volunteered to fix broken gauges in tens of thousands of vehicles at a cost of $200 to $1,000 each, depending on the car model. By September 2004, Shell said it had processed about 81,000 claims. In addition, a judge has ordered $6.8 million to be divided among 79 attorneys in the class action suit. [FORBES: SHELL GAS SETTLEMENT]