Gas Trading Firms’ $14 Million Price-Fixing Settlement Approved

California consumers who accused gas trading firms Vitol Inc. and SK Energy Americas Inc. of fixing gas prices received final approval of a $13.9 million settlement by a San Francisco federal judge Wednesday.

Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley also agreed to the consumers’ attorneys’ legal fees request of 30% of the net settlement fund and their litigation expenses request of $6.5 million, which would also come from the settlement fund.

• The approval ends a five-year-long legal battle accusing Vitol and SK Energy of taking advantage of an explosion at a ExxonMobil gas refinery near Los Angeles in 2015 that restricted supply ...