Market Chatter: Lukoil Loses Bid to Dismiss Franchisee Suit Over Alleged US Gas Overcharging

06:57 PM EDT, 10/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Owners of almost 30 Lukoil PJSC filling stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey can proceed with a lawsuit accusing the Russian oil giant of overcharging franchisees, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing a New Jersey state court order. Judge Douglas H. Hurd in Trenton rejected Lukoil's motion to dismiss on Friday without giving reasons in a brief order, the report said. The franchisees, 20 in New Jersey and nine in Pennsylvania, allege Lukoil is charging excessively high gasoline prices to offset revenue lost to U.S. sanctions, according to the complaint filed in April, as cited in the report. At a hearing earlier Friday, Lukoil's attorney argued that occasional disputes with franchisees don't amount to "unreasonable performance standards," according to the report. Lukoil didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)