Class action lawsuit targets BP for gas

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An Indianapolis attorney says he expects to see more complaints about BP’s gas problem.

As evidence, William Riley cites the expansion in the amount of contamination acknowledged by the gas company’s North American operation.

"You'd like to think that -- with as much as we're paying for gasoline,” Riley said, “that the people who are making it are taking care and know what they're doing."

Riley said when he filed a lawsuit last Friday, the refining problem was half of what is reported now. He represents a northern Indiana woman who says contaminated gas forced her to spend nearly $1,000 on car repairs. Her complaint against BP is one of thousands -- from Milwaukee to Chicago to Indianapolis.

"You have to wonder about a quality control system that allows 4.7 million gallons of bad gas to get out,” Riley said.

BP created a website to help customers identify whether they might have purchased some bad gas. The site also offers a claims form to request reimbursement for repairs.

According to a press release, another lawsuit “seeks over $5 million in damages and brings product liability and breach of warranty claims against BP on behalf of all purchasers of the tainted gasoline.”

BP sent a statement saying the contamination did not affect all grades of gasoline. “Only premium and midgrade gasoline was suspected of being off-spec in the Indianapolis market.” According to the company’s message, “regular gasoline, which makes up more than 80% of BP’s sales volume was unaffected in the Indianapolis market.”

The Indiana Attorney General’s Office told us it has received 112 complaints about the gasoline problem.

Erin Reece, a representative of the office says they will monitor the claims and reimbursement process established by BP. Reece also said customers may submit claims to the Attorney General’s Office, in addition to filing with BP.

To make a claim with BP, call 1-800-333-3991 or 1-800-599-9040. To search for gas stations that may have received the bad gas, click here .