Vitol, SK Trading Fail to End California Gas-Price Fixing Suit

Vitol Inc. and SK Trading International Co. failed to persuade a judge to throw out a California lawsuit accusing them of taking advantage of a 2015 refinery explosion near Los Angeles to jack up the price of gasoline.

Superior Court Judge Andrew Cheng ruled Thursday that the lawsuit, filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, sufficiently supported the claim that the companies’ “alleged invidious conduct” resulted in higher prices for consumers at gas pumps. The judge also found that the state had backed up its claim that the companies conspired in violation of antitrust law.

The judge’s ruling means ...