Marketer ordered to pay Citgo $3 MM in damages as anti-Chavez lawsuit collapses

摘要

C-store marketer Dan Arnold has finally lost his much-publicized lawsuit seeking to blame his failure to pull minimum gallons on a consumer boycott sparked by inflammatory remarks by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. State-owned Petroleos de Venezuela is Citgo's parent company. U.S. District Judge Barbra B. Crabb has ordered Arnold's Ranger Enterprises to pay more than $3.07 million in damages to Citgo, plus another $1.25 million in attorneys' fees and other costs, and $570,000 more in interest payments. Ranger lost several rounds in the year-long litigation, including dismissal of claims it filed under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act. Judge Crabb signed off on the final judgment against the Rock-ford, IU.-based chain Sept. 15.