Story
Quality Oil Accused of Selling Contaminated Fuel at Over 130 NC Stations in Lawsuit
Summary
A federal lawsuit alleges Quality Oil Company and an affiliate systematically mixed contaminated fuel into clean loads for at least a decade, selling the mixture across North Carolina. The company denies the claims, stating the lawsuit lacks merit.
A federal lawsuit filed by two North Carolina residents claims that Quality Oil Company LLC and its affiliate, Reliable Tank Line LLC, knowingly sold gasoline mixed with contaminated fuel at more than 130 gas stations across the state for at least a decade. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status to represent other consumers who purchased fuel from the company.
Details of the Allegations
The complaint, filed on May 29, 2025, by Stanley Somerville and Michael Genwright, alleges a systematic practice of adulterating fuel. According to the lawsuit, when fuel at a station became contaminated or mixed, the companies would pump it out and store it in tanker trailers. Workers were then allegedly directed to add hundreds of gallons of this untested, contaminated mixture to new loads of clean fuel before delivery.
The lawsuit seeks to certify a class of all individuals who bought fuel from Quality Oil in the four years preceding the filing. This action could expose the company to significant potential liability if the claims are proven.
A Specific Incident Cited
AdThe plaintiffs detail a specific delivery that allegedly occurred on November 28, 2023. The complaint claims a tanker holding contaminated fuel from a "Go Gas #4" station met another truck that had just picked up clean fuel from the Colonial Pipeline terminal in Greensboro. Fuel was allegedly transferred between the trucks.
The lawsuit asserts that the second truck then delivered more than 1,000 gallons of the mixed fuel to a Quality Plus station in the Morganton area, where it was sold to the public. The complaint reportedly includes images of the plaintiffs purchasing gasoline at that location.
Company Response
In an August court filing, Quality Oil and Reliable Tank Line asserted that their fuel delivery and sales practices are in full compliance with North Carolina law. A representative for Quality Oil also told WRAL News that the lawsuit "lacks merit."
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