Another chapter in the Pilot Flying J legal battle has come to a close with the approval of an $85 Million settlement to be split among the 5,500 companies who took part in the class-action suit against the largest truck stop chain in the United States. The lawsuit is over charges that Pilot Flying J deliberately withheld portions of fuel rebates that they owed to trucking companies as part of a fuel rebate scheme.
Of the $84.9 million that they will be paying out, $56.5m is money that was owed for fuel rebates, $9.75m is interest on those rebates, $4.5m is the audit cost, and $14m is the cost to cover attorney fees. The remaining $150,000 will go to pay for attorney’s expenses, incentive awards, fees for notice services, and fees for administration services.
This is the end of the class action suit against Pilot, but it is by no means the end of their legal woes. There are still trucking companies who chose not to be part of the class action suit, many of whom are seeking additional damages and are targeting individuals in Pilot’s management team, including owner Jimmy Haslam.
The federal government seems to still be investigating Pilot Flying J, and many members of the sales team have already been charged with crimes including felony charges such as conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Multiple members of the PFJ sales team have plead guilty to the charges against them and agreed to assist the FBI in their investigation in exchange for leniency.
Next Story: CSA Scores To Change Based On Citation Outcomes
Source: overdrive, overdrive, fleetowner
Scott Sr says
My only question is how long under we feel it at the pump and in the store? Although to sound unselfish .. to those smaller guys I am glad to see you getting back what you deserve.
Some Guy says
It really shouldn’t effect the cost at the pump that much. They HAD to have Directors & Officers insurance that is designed specifically for situations such as this.
ktowner says
Nope. If fraud was involved the insurance will not pay. And D&O insurance is not applicable to non board members actions.
So this settlement is coming from us.
Techslave says
85million is a slap on the wrist. We can begin to comprehend the amount of money this company generates daily.
OnTheRoadAgain says
You are positively, absolutely…RIGHT! It’s like the sound of a penny being dropped into an empty coffee can…
jim says
That works out to only about $15,454 per company. sounds like the ones that stays out of the class action are the smart ones.
Bigredb61 says
Glad my road days or behind me, sounds like a mess.