The price-gouging lawsuit brought by the Kansas Attorney General following the February 2021 Winter Storm Uri, one that eventually led to a similar suit filed by the attorney general in Oklahoma, was thrown out on a technicality.
Kansas AG Kris Kobach filed the suit in a County district court then transferred it to a federal court after firing the state’s outside counsel.
“Winter Storm Uri left some Kansas residents out in the cold — literally,” wrote District Judge Daniel Crabtree. “This case’s claims ask whether one of the largest natural gas marketers in the United States also left Kansas residents out in the cold — figuratively.”
The lawsuit alleged that Macquarie Energy’s actions caused more than $50 million in excess costs for Kansas consumers. The same company has been targeted in Oklahoma where natural gas prices soared to historic levels.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced in July that he intended to sue the natural gas marketers. He later chose the Oklahoma City law firm of Foshee & Yafee to lead the effort in court. So far, a suit has not been filed.
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