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- Two gas stations in Wisconsin are suing another store in town because they claim the store’s gas prices are too low.
- They are suing under the state’s Unfair Sales Act, which prohibits the selling of goods below cost.
- Read about more unusual lawsuits here.
From 1979 to 1999, the average price of a gallon of gas was anywhere between 86 cents and $1.17. Then the war in Afghanistan began and gas prices have been going up every since.
2003 was the first time a gallon of gas had ever been more than two dollars. Then, in 2008, gas averaged more than three dollars a gallon.
Then, earlier this month, gas prices were the most expensive they have has ever been in the history of the United States when the average national price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached $4.17.
This spike in the price of gas has naturally caused a bit of tension, and not just for all the people filling up their vehicle’s gas tanks.
It’s causing some gas stations to file lawsuits. Really unusual lawsuits.
A gas station in Wisconsin is being sued for making their gas too cheap
According to WISN 12 News, two Wisconsin gas stations are suing another store, Woodman’s in Waukesha, for… wait for it… pricing their gas too low.
According to more than 200 pages in court documents WISN 12 obtained on Friday, the companies are suing under the state’s Unfair Sales Act, which prohibits selling goods below cost.
However, in newly filed documents, Woodman’s argues it can sell below cost in order to keep up with Costco, six and a half miles away in Pewaukee.
WISN 12 saw lines of cars waiting to fuel up at Woodman’s Friday, compared to the few at the other two stations.
Each of the customers interviewed said they fuel up at Woodman’s because it has the lowest gas prices.
The gas stations that filed the lawsuit against Woodman’s, a Shell and a BP station, are seeking $80,000, based on the number of days they claim Woodman’s priced their gas too low.
Interestingly, Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act was actually enacted to protect smaller gas stations from being undercut in price by the big chains… like Shell and BP.
Woodman’s claims it “is in full compliance with its Waukesha store gas pricing and believes this lawsuit is without merit.”