A Proposed Class Action Settlement of up to $10 Million Provides Consumers With Money Back for Their Purchase or Exchange of an AmeriGas Propane Gas Cylinder

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, Girard Gibbs LLP, and Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP:

A proposed Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit called In re Pre-Filled Propane Tank Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, MDL No. 2086, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

The lawsuit claims that AmeriGas, together with certain competitors, did not fill propane gas cylinders to the proper level and failed to disclose the actual net weight or level of propane in the cylinders to customers. AmeriGas denies these claims and denies it did anything wrong.

The proposed Settlement provides up to $10 million to benefit consumers allegedly overcharged for propane gas cylinders purchased between June 15, 2005 and November 30, 2009.  In addition, AmeriGas has committed to provide more information regarding the net weight of propane in its cylinders.

In order to get a payment, Class Members must submit a claim form by U.S. mail or e-mail by October 31, 2010.  Class Members who remain in the Settlement give up the right to sue AmeriGas for certain claims and will be bound by all Court orders.  The amount paid to Class Members will be determined according to terms in the Settlement Agreement.

Class Members wanting to keep the right to sue AmeriGas about the claims in this Settlement must exclude themselves in writing by September 1, 2010.  Class Members who exclude themselves will not get any payment from the Settlement.  Any objections or comments on the Settlement must be received by September 15, 2010. Class Members who object give up the right to sue and are bound by Court orders even if the objection is rejected.  Objectors may appear at the Fairness Hearing, but are not required to attend.

If Class Members do nothing, they remain in the proposed Settlement but will not get a payment unless a valid claim form is timely submitted.  They give up their right to sue AmeriGas for certain claims and are bound by all Court orders

The Court appointed lawyers to represent Class Members. They will ask the Court for attorneys' fees and costs, which will be paid by AmeriGas separately from the benefits available to the Class Members. Class Members do not need to hire their own lawyer, but they do have the right to choose to hire a lawyer at their own expense for advice about the proposed Settlement and their rights in connection with the proposed Settlement.

The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on October 1, 2010 to determine whether to approve the proposed Settlement and attorneys' fees and expenses. Class Members may attend this hearing if they wish, but they are not required to attend to participate in the proposed Settlement.

For more detailed information about the proposed Settlement, and your options, visit www.PropaneSettlement.com, call 1-866-682-1763, or TEXT "Propane" to 41513* (*Msg & Data rates may apply. Txt STOP to opt-out.)

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, Girard Gibbs LLP, and Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP