Frivolous Lawsuit

More often than not, the phrase “frivolous lawsuit” is somewhat redundant. Such is the case with San Antonio-based fuel refiner Tesoro, which has filed a lawsuit in California to block a regulation that would boost ethanol consumption in the state by 2010. The company, which operates refineries in Los Angeles and the city of Martinez, says “the new fuel specifications could conflict with the state’s push to cut greenhouse gas emissions and could have ramifications for the environment and U.S. food prices.” The New Fuels Alliance, a group that includes the California Renewable Fuels Partnership, calls the suit “a blatant attempt by Tesoro to try to use the regulatory and legal process to gain competitive advantage in the market place.” A statement by the alliance continued, “Other oil companies are moving toward increased... [read full story]