Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
Attorney General Announces Hiring Of Claims Administrator To Distribute $1 Million F&S Oil Settlement To Consumers
March 9, 2010
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced his office has hired The Garden City Group of Seattle, Wash. to distribute about $1 million in restitution to F&S Oil customers left without paid-for oil and services when the company went bankrupt in 2008.
Garden City will mail notices as soon as possible to approximately 10,000 potential claimants -- including about 2,500 who contacted the Attorney General’s Office. The company will create a website to keep applicants informed and updated. Consumers who do not receive a notice, but believe they are eligible for restitution will be able to obtain an application from the website.
Blumenthal said that he expects consumers to receive checks this spring.
“Hiring a claims administrator is a vital step toward providing F&S customers restitution,” Blumenthal said. “The administrator will distribute checks as soon as possible to F&S customers literally left in the cold by the company’s sudden bankruptcy. Scarce assets were a huge hurdle in our tough fight for restitution, but this result assures some relief.
“Consumers should receive checks this spring, compensation for oil and services they purchased, but never received. My office will work closely with the claims administrator to assure that consumers receive compensation fairly, quickly and efficiently.
“My office’s investigation into the collapse of F&S Oil is active and ongoing. We continue pursuing additional assets for restitution to F&S customers.”
Consumers will have 30 days to return applications for restitution mailed them. F&S customers who suffered a personal, household or family loss will be eligible for restitution. The amount each claimant receives will be determined by the claims administrator and the Attorney General's Office, depending in part on how many claims are received.