Shell Oil Co. Faces Lawsuit Over Allegations of Race-Based Treatment at Gas Stations

Strategic Insights -

Chicago police officer Daron Hill, who previously filed a similar suit against Amoco Corp., has filed a race-discrimination lawsuit against Shell Oil Co. and several of its service stations in the Chicago area. The lawsuit alleges that stations in Bridgeton and St. Peters treated black and white customers differently, with one station owner denying the claim as "totally pathetic." Hill's investigation, undertaken at his own expense, involved arranging tests in which similar cars, driven by white and black individuals, visited the stations within a short time of each other. The suit claims that a white customer was allowed to pump gasoline before paying, while a black customer was required to pay first.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, names Shell Oil Co. and five stations in the Chicago area as defendants.
  • The allegations of race-based treatment were made by Chicago police officer Daron Hill, who previously filed a similar lawsuit against Amoco Corp.
  • Hill videotaped the alleged incidents on July 14 at stations in Bridgeton and St. Peters, where he claims a white customer was allowed to pump gasoline before paying, while a black customer was not.
  • The lawsuit lists, but does not name as defendants, Shell stations in the St. Louis area, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville.
  • Mubeen Mahmood, owner of a Shell station in Bridgeton, denied the allegations, stating that he has no policy regarding race and that most of his employees are black.
  • Hill advised his employees to refuse to allow customers to pump before paying if they could not see the cars or suspected the customers of being drunk or suspicious.
  • Hill filed a complaint with the Missouri Human Rights Commission against the two local stations on August 18, and may follow up with additional lawsuits.

Statistics:

  • 2 Shell stations in Bridgeton and St. Peters are listed as defendants in the lawsuit.
  • 5 Shell stations in the Chicago area are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
  • 4 other metropolitan areas (St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville) are listed as having Shell stations that may face similar lawsuits.
  • 1 complaint was filed with the Missouri Human Rights Commission against the local stations on August 18.

Sources:

  • United Press International
  • Chicago Tribune
  • Hillsattorney, Paul Mollica