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LEGAL NEWSLINE

Thursday, March 28, 2024

N.Y. AG reaches $20,000 settlement with gas station owner

Eschneiderman

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a $20,000 settlement on Thursday with the principal owner of four gas stations in Westchester County to resolve allegations of price gouging after Hurricane Sandy.

Sammy Eljamal, the owner of the four gas retailers, will pay $20,000 in penalties to resolve allegations of charging unconscionably excessive prices following Hurricane Sandy. Schneiderman alleged that Eljamal's stations, which include Shell stations in Cortlandt Manor, Yonkers, Ardsley and Tarrytown, made increases to their prices following Sandy that significantly exceeded any additional costs.

The settlement is the latest of 48 agreements with New York businesses to resolve allegations of price gouging during the storm emergency. Thursday's settlement brings the total number of penalties to $350,000.

"As thousands of New Yorkers sat in line for hours waiting to buy gasoline during the state of emergency created by Hurricane Sandy, some crooked station owners increased their retail prices by excessive and illegal amounts," Schneiderman said. "Today, we are continuing to send the message that ripping off New Yorkers during a natural disaster is against the law and that those who engage in illegal price gouging will be held accountable."

New York State's Price Gouging Law prohibits merchants from selling services or goods for an unconscionably excessive price during natural disasters.

 

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