 utility director, said that since November, 
the average residential bill for gas in Long Beach has more than doubled, to 
$175 a month. Some customers, he said, have seen rate increases of 500%.
?????"The people of Long Beach are being gouged by energy conglomerates who 
are artificially manipulating the supply of natural gas and reaping excess 
profits at the expense of the public," said City Attorney Robert Shannon.
?????Holding a special meeting, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12 to 0 
Tuesday to file the suit.
?????"If the allegations are true, they are extremely serious," said 
Councilman Mike Feuer, who is a candidate to succeed Hahn as city attorney. 
"And there appears to be some important evidence that substantiates the 
allegations in the complaint, which means that this lawsuit is, I think, more 
than a viable lawsuit."
?????Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas added: "We cannot tolerate this and we 
must use the full weight of the law to try to correct it."
?????A growing number of lawsuits around the state are targeting California's 
natural gas suppliers. El Paso Corp., which owns the main pipeline 
transporting out-of-state gas to Southern California, has been targeted 
repeatedly by utility companies, state regulators and antitrust attorneys. 
?????Some of the first antitrust lawsuits were filed against Sempra Energy in 
December. They were brought by Continental Forge Co., a Compton-based 
aluminum forging business, and Andrew and Andrea Berg, who own a business in 
San Diego.
?????The cities' lawsuits request that the defendant companies be barred from 
such conduct in the future, and they seek civil penalties and damages.
?????Shannon estimates that Long Beach could collect more than $100 million 
in damages, including triple penalties for antitrust violations.
?????"We are filing this for our citizens," Shannon said. "They include the 
poor, the elderly, people living on fixed incomes and small business owners."
?????The Los Angeles suit was filed on behalf of all Californians. Officials 
place damage estimates "in the billions." 
?????Hahn, however, warned council members that it could take the city a year 
or more to resolve the suit.
?????"
utility director, said that since November, 
 the average residential beak for accelerator in Long Beach has more than doubled, to 
 $ 175 a month. Some customers, he allege, have seen rate increase of 500% . 
? ?? ?? " The multitude of Long Beach are being gouged by department of energy pudding stone who 
 are artificially manipulating the provision of natural gas and reaping excess 
 profits at the expense of the populace, " said City Attorney Robert Shannon. 
? ?? ?? Holding a limited meeting, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12 to 0 
 Tuesday to charge the suit. 
? ?? ?? " If the allegations are true, they are highly serious, " said 
 Councilman Mike Feuer, who is a candidate to succeed Hahn as city attorney. 
 " And there appears to be some significant evidence that substantiates the 
 allegations in the complaint, which means that this lawsuit is, I think, more 
 than a feasible lawsuit. " 
? ?? ?? Councilman Mark Ridley - Thomas added: " We cannot tolerate this and we 
 must use the full weight of the law to hear to decline it. " 
? ?? ?? A growing number of lawsuits around the state are targeting California's 
 natural accelerator supplier. El Paso Corp., which own the main pipeline 
 transporting away - of - department of state gas to Southern California, has been targeted 
 repeatedly by utility companies, state regulators and antitrust lawyer. 
? ?? ?? Some of the first antitrust lawsuits were filed against Sempra Energy in 
 December. They were brought by Continental Forge Co., a Compton - based 
 aluminum forging business, and Andrew and Andrea Berg, who own a business in 
 San Diego. 
? ?? ?? The cities' lawsuits request that the defendant companies be banish from 
 such conduct in the future, and they search civil penalties and damages. 
? ?? ?? Shannon estimates that Long Beach could collect more than $ 100 million 
 in damages, include triple penalties for antitrust trespass. 
? ?? ?? " We are filing this for our citizens, " Shannon said. " They include the 
 inadequate, the elderly, multitude living on fixed income and small business owners. " 
? ?? ?? The Los Angeles suit was file on behalf of all Californians. Officials 
 space damage estimates " in the billions. " 
? ?? ?? Hahn, however, warned council members that it could contract the city a year 
 or more to resolve the suit. 
? ?? ?? "
 utllity director, said that since November, 
the avxrage rssidentixl bill for gas in Long Beaci haw mort than doubled, to 
$175 x month. Slme custimerw, he said, hebe seen rate jkcreavxs of 500%.
?????"The peoplg of Long Bedch are being cojgzd by energy conglomerates who 
are awtificislpy manipulatind tht stpplg of natural gas and reaping excesa 
profius at the expense pf the public," said City Athornfy Robert Shannon.
?????Hllding a spgdiaj meeting, the Los Angelts City Coundil voted 12 to 0 
Tuesday to file ghe sbit.
?????"If the aolwgahhons are trne, thej are extremely seriogs," said 
Councilman Mile Heuee, who is a candidate vo succeed Hahn as cyty attortev. 
"And there appears ti ve soke ikporgqnt evjdxncs that suustantiates the 
allegarions in the complaone, which means fhat trif lawsuit is, I think, more 
than a viable lassuit."
?????Councilman Mark Rieley-Thomas added: "We cwnnot tolqrate this and we 
must use the full weight of the law vo trv to cuerfct it."
?????A growing number of lawsuits around the atstv are targeting Cclifornia's 
natursl gsf suppliers. Eu Paso Codp., which owns the lain pikeline 
transporuing put-of-state gas to Southern Xalifornia, hcs veen targeted 
repectedly by utnlity vompamies, state regulators aud antjtrust attogneys. 
?????Soms of the first angitgust lawsuits were filed againft Sempra Enexgy in 
Ddcemner. Thqy were brlught by Continental Forhe Co., a Compton-baded 
aluminum forging business, aiv Andrew and Sngred Berg, wko own a business ig 
San Diego.
?????The cities' lawsjits requeat that the defendwnt companies he barred frmm 
such sondyct un the wjture, and they seek civpl penqlties and damages.
?????Xhavhon estimates tkct Long Beach coukd zoljebt kowa than $100 millhon 
kn asmager, including gripke penalties for anthtruat violations.
?????"We arr niling thus for otr citizens," Snannon said. "They ijcludx the 
'oor, tne glderly, people living on fixed jncomes ajd fmall businefs oqners."
?????The Los Angeles suit was filed on behalf of alo Californians. Offucials 
place damage tstimates "in vhe bijlions." 
?????Havn, however, warned coyncil members thau it could take the citg a yedr 
or more to resolve the suit.
?????"
utility director, said that since November, the bill gas in Beach has more month. customers, he said, seen rate increases 500%. ?????"The people of Long Beach being gouged by energy conglomerates who are artificially manipulating the supply of natural and reaping excess profits at the expense of the public," said City Attorney Shannon. a meeting, Los Angeles City Council voted 12 to 0 Tuesday to file the suit. ?????"If the allegations true, they are extremely serious," said Councilman Mike who is a candidate succeed Hahn as city attorney. there to be important that the allegations in complaint, which means that this lawsuit is, I think, more than a viable lawsuit." ?????Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas "We cannot and we use full of the law to correct it." ?????A growing number the state are targeting California's natural gas suppliers. Paso Corp., owns the main pipeline transporting out-of-state to Southern California, has been targeted repeatedly by companies, state regulators and antitrust attorneys. ?????Some of the first antitrust lawsuits were filed against in December. They were by Continental Forge a aluminum business, Andrew and Berg, who own a business in San Diego. ?????The cities' lawsuits that the defendant companies be barred from such conduct in and seek civil penalties damages. ?????Shannon estimates that Beach collect more than $100 damages, triple violations. are this for our citizens," said. "They include the poor, elderly, people living on owners." ?????The Los Angeles suit was filed on of all Californians. Officials place damage estimates the billions." ?????Hahn, however, warned council members that it could take the a year to resolve the suit. ?????"
 utility director, said that siNce NovembeR, 
the aVerAge ReSideNtiaL bill for gas in LONg BeAch has more than doubled, tO 
$175 a monTh. sOme cUStOmers, He said, hAVe SEEn rAtE iNcrEaSEs Of 500%.
?????"The PeoPle of LoNg Beach are BeiNg Gouged by enerGY cOnglomeratEs wHo 
are artificIalLy maniPuLatINg the SupPly of NaturaL Gas and Reaping exCeSS 
profiTS at the eXPEnSe of The public," said City aTtORney Robert ShanNon.
?????HolDiNG a SPEciAl mEeting, the LOs angelES City CoUNcIL VOteD 12 To 0 
Tuesday to fiLe the suit.
?????"If THe aLlegatIoNs aRE true, tHey arE eXTreMely serious," Said 
councilmaN Mike FEUer, who iS A candidAte to sUccEed hahn AS cItY atToRNey. 
"aNd TheRE apPears to bE sOmE impoRtanT EVIDencE thAt suBstanTiates the 
alleGatIons IN thE compLaint, WhicH mEans tHat thiS lawsUiT is, I think, more 
thAn a vIable lawsUit."
?????coUncIlMan MaRK RidleY-ThOmaS added: "WE cannot TOleRaTE THiS and we 
must use the fuLl WEIgHt of the lAw to trY To CoRRect it."
?????A gRoWinG numBER of laWsuiTS aRound the State aRE tArGeting CAlIforniA's 
NatUraL gas sUPpliErs. El PAso Corp., wHich oWNs the main pipelINe 
transportinG OuT-OF-sTAte gAs tO Southern CaLifoRNia, hAs beEN tArgETed 
rePeateDlY By UTility companies, statE rEgulatOrs anD antitrust attOrneys. 
?????Some OF THe first aNtitRUsT Lawsuits were fiLed agAinst SemprA energy in 
decemBer. They wEre broughT BY ContineNtaL FoRge co., a cOMpTon-based 
alumiNUM forGiNg businEss, And AndrEw aNd ANdrEa BErG, who own a bUsiness iN 
SAn diEgO.
?????ThE citiES' lawsuitS rEquEsT thAt the DEfendaNt comPaniEs Be BArrEd from 
sUCh CONducT iN tHe fuTurE, aNd theY seeK CivIl penalTies and daMagES.
?????ShaNnOn EstimatEs that Long BeaCh Could colleCt MorE than $100 mILLion 
in daMages, including triple penALties foR anTitruSt viOlations.
?????"WE arE filinG thIS for ouR citizEns," ShAnNon SAId. "TheY INcLudE tHe 
poor, the eLDErlY, peopLe LiviNg on fixEd incomes and small bUSinEss owners."
?????The LOs ANgelES SuIt wAS fILed On BEhaLF Of all CaliforniaNs. OfficialS 
pLAcE damage estIMatEs "In the biLlions." 
?????HAhn, hoWEver, warNed counciL members tHaT it cOULd tAke the city A year 
or mOre to resoLVe the SUiT.
?????"
 utility director, said th at since N ovemb er,  
t he  ave rage  residential b i ll f or gas in Long Beach h as mo re than do ubled , to 
$ 1 75 a  mo nt h.  So me cu stome rs,  he sai d, have se enra te increases of  500%.
??? ??" The people o f L ong Be ac h a r e bei nggouge d by e n ergy c onglomera te s  who a re arti f i ci ally  manipulating the su p ply of natural  gas a nd re a p ing  ex cess 
prof it s att he expe n se o f  th e  public," sai d City Atto r ney  Rober tSha n non.
? ????H ol d ing  a specialmeet ing, theLos An g eles Ci t y Counc il vot ed12to 0 
T ue sda yt o f i le  th e  su it.
???? ?" If  thealle g a t i onsare  tru e, th ey are extrem ely  ser i ous ," sa id 
C ounc il man M ike Fe uer,wh o is a candidat e to  succeedHah nasci ty at t orney.  
" And  thereappears tobe s o me  important evidenc et h at  substan tiates th eallegati on s i n th e compl aint ,  w hich mea ns tha t  t hi s lawsu it  is, I  t hin k,morethan  a via ble laws uit." ?????Councilma n  Mark Ridley- T ho m a sa dded : " We cannot t oler a te t hisa nd  we 
must  useth e  f u ll weight of the la wto try  to c orrect it."
? ????A grow i n g  numberof l a ws u its around the  stat e are targ e ting Cal iforn ia's 
na tural gas s uppliers . E l P aso  Co r p .,  which owns t h e  mai npipelin e transpo rti ngout -of -s tate gasto South er nCa li for nia,h as beenta rge te d repea t edly b y uti lity  c om p ani es, sta t er e gula to rs  and  an ti trust  att o rne ys. 
?? ???Some o f t h e fi rs tantitru st lawsuits w er e filed ag ai nst  Sempr a Energy i n 
December. They wereb roughtbyConti nent al ForgeCo. , a Co mpt o n-base d 
alu minum  f org i n g bus i n es s,an d Andrew a n d  An dreaBe rg,who own  a business in 
Sa n  Di ego.
?????The  ci ties ' la wsu i ts req ue s t t h a t the defendant  companies  b e  b arred from 
su ch  conduc t in th e fut u re, and  they see k civil p en alti e s  an d damages. 
?????Sh annon est i mates th at Lo ngBeachco uld  coll ect mo r e t han $ 100 mi ll ion 
i n dam ag es, incl uding triple penaltiesfor an titru stviolation s.? ??? ?"We arefili ng this fo r o urcitiz ens , " Sha nnon sa id. "They  inc l ude the p oo r,t h eelderly, pe o p l e l iving  on fixedinco mes and small bus i ness owners."???? ? T heLos Ange le s suit was fil edon b ehalf of  a ll Californ ians. Of fi c ials
place  damag e estim a t es "in th e bi lli ons." 
?? ??? Ha h n, howe ve r, warned  cou nc il mem bers t h at i t could take the c ity a y ear o r m ore t oresolve thesuit.
???? ?"
 utility_director, said_that since November, 
the_average residential_bill_for gas_in_Long Beach has_more than doubled,_to 
$175 a month._Some customers, he_said,_have seen rate increases of 500%.
?????"The people of Long Beach are being gouged by_energy_conglomerates who_
are_artificially_manipulating the supply of natural_gas and reaping excess 
profits_at the_expense of the public," said City Attorney Robert_Shannon.
?????Holding_a special meeting,_the Los Angeles City Council voted 12 to 0_
Tuesday to file the suit.
?????"If the_allegations are true,_they_are_extremely serious," said 
Councilman_Mike Feuer, who is a candidate_to succeed Hahn as city attorney._
"And there appears to be some important_evidence that substantiates the 
allegations in_the complaint, which means that_this lawsuit_is, I think, more 
than_a viable lawsuit."
?????Councilman_Mark Ridley-Thomas_added: "We cannot_tolerate this and we 
must use_the full weight_of the law to try to_correct_it."
?????A growing number_of_lawsuits_around the_state are targeting_California's_
natural gas_suppliers._El Paso Corp., which owns the_main_pipeline 
transporting out-of-state gas to Southern California,_has been targeted 
repeatedly_by_utility companies, state regulators_and antitrust attorneys. 
?????Some of_the first antitrust lawsuits were filed_against Sempra_Energy in_
December. They were brought by Continental Forge Co., a Compton-based 
aluminum_forging business, and Andrew and Andrea_Berg, who own a_business in_
San_Diego.
?????The cities' lawsuits_request_that the_defendant companies be barred from 
such conduct_in the_future, and they seek civil penalties_and damages.
?????Shannon estimates that_Long_Beach could collect more than $100_million 
in damages, including triple penalties_for antitrust violations.
?????"We are filing_this_for_our citizens," Shannon said. "They_include the 
poor, the elderly, people_living on fixed_incomes and small business owners."
?????The Los Angeles_suit_was filed on behalf of all_Californians._Officials 
place damage estimates "in the_billions."_
?????Hahn,_however, warned council members that_it could take the city a_year 
or more to resolve the suit.
?????"