Pilot Flying J Seeks to Consolidate Federal Lawsuits

SAN DIEGO -- Pilot Flying J is taking steps to consolidate seven remaining federal lawsuits filed over allegations of fraud in its fuel rebate program.

Court documents filed in the U.S. District Court in San Diego show that attorneys for Pilot Flying J and trucking companies involved in the lawsuits will make oral arguments on March 27, according to a report by Newsnet 5 Cleveland. The move comes four months after Pilot Flying J received final approval for a $85-million class-action settlement. However, several trucking companies opted out of that deal.

A U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that it "may, on its own initiative, consider transfer of any or all of the actions" to any district or districts, the news outlet reported.

In documents filed with the court, Pilot Flying J attorneys have argued that the remaining lawsuits should be transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville, the travel stop company's home base. Pilot's attorneys argue that the company is based in Knoxville, the vast majority of documents are located in Knoxville and six of the named defendants in the lawsuits "live in or around" Knoxville.

In addition to the remaining federal lawsuits, five additional trucking companies are pursuing lawsuits in state courts in Tennessee and South Carolina.

Family-owned Pilot Flying J operates more than 650 retail locations.