The settlement administrator has updated on 29 April 2025 that the payment distribution for the California Gasoline settlement and the process will take weeks to complete, so the claimants can expect their payout by 28 May 2025, with $50 million in funds.
The settlement involves three defendants: Vitol Inc., SK Trading International Co. Ltd., and SK Energy Americas, and the Attorney General has brought this lawsuit on behalf of all natural persons of California. The settlement alleges that the defendants have manipulated gasoline prices, which violated the antitrust laws of the US state.
| Settlement | California v. Vitol Settlement |
| Settlement Fund | $50 million |
| Compensation fund | $37,500,000 |
| Penalty | $12,500,000 |
| Claim Deadline | 08 January 2025 |
| Final Approval | 28 February 2025 |
| Payment Distribution begins | 29 April 2025 |
| Distribution ends | 28 May 2025 |
| Settlement Administrator Contact No. | 1-877-725-7523 |
| Settlement Website | https://vlc.calgaslitigation.com/ |
Payout Amount
The three defendants involved in the California gas litigation proposed to pay $50 million in two settlement funds to dismiss the lawsuit and compensate the California residents, and pay a penalty for violating the state’s unfair competition laws. From the $50 million settlement fund, $37,500,000 was used to compensate customers, whereas $12,500,000 will be paid as a penalty.
The penalty fund will be used by the state and local governments to implement consumer protection laws and stop such activities. Now, the claimants wondering about the payment after the distribution has begun should know that from the $37,500,000 fund, the administrator deducted the administration cost, service awards, attorney’s fees & costs, and other expenses.
The payout for each claimant with a valid claim is based on the number of claims made on the settlement, and as each claimant can recover their higher gasoline prices they paid during the class period. The payout will be disclosed when the claimants start receiving the payout.
Who is eligible?
The Attorney General has filed the lawsuit against the three defendants on the grounds of violating the antitrust laws, as their practices affected the gasoline prices in the State, so the California residents who meet the following conditions will be entitled to compensation:
- People living in California during the class period, 20 February 2015, and 10 November 2015.
- California natural persons who bought the gasoline at retail in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura, or Imperial Counties in the state during the class period will receive compensation from the settlement.
- People who are not currently living in California may also receive the compensation if they reside in the State during the class period, or they have visited the state and bought the gas.
- The California gas litigation against Vitil and other class members who have filed the valid claim form before 08 January will be eligible for compensation.
Payment Mode
The California gas settlement claim form does not give the option to select the payment mode for the settlement payout to the class members. So, the class members who have a valid claim for the California v. Vitol et al. can expect their payment to be processed with the following methods:
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Zelle
- Paper Check
The payment will be processed based on the information the administrator has in records of the class members, so do check your payment in these payment modes. The claimants who will receive the payout through a paper check should know that they have to cash the paper check within 180 days, otherwise it will become invalid.
The class members should know that if they do not claim the payout, the unclaimed payout and funds will be given to the California Universities to research California gas and the market to develop tools and ideas to lower the cost and avoid such practices of cost manipulation in the future.
What to do if you do not receive the payout?
The California gas settlement administrator has updated about the payout distribution and ensured that the valid claimants will receive the payout by 28 May 2025; however, if you do not receive it by 28 May, you should immediately contact the administrator through:
- Call at 1-877-725-7523
- Email at peoplesinfo@calgaslitigation.com
- Mail at California v. Vitol Settlement Administrator, PO Box 301177, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1777.
The administrator will respond with the possible reasons for your payout delay and suggest the things you have to do ( if applicable) or process your payment. The payment distribution has officially begun for the California Gas litigation, so check your mail or electronic methods to see if you have received the payout or not.