Boat Owner Alleges Ethanol Damage In Lawsuit

SEBRING - A Highlands County man has sued five of the nation's biggest oil companies, alleging one sold 10 percent ethanol fuel that damaged his boat's engine.Erick Kelecseny contacted the Fort Lauderdale personal injury law firm Kopelowitz Ostrow, who filed suit Aug. 12 in U.S. District Court. They allege that Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP America, Shell and ConocoPhillips know about the problems ethanol causes to causes boats, but continue to market blended gasoline to the marine industry. Kelecseny seeks punitive damages and class-action status to include all Florida boat owners whose vessels were damaged by the blended gas. According to an April 9 story carried on Dow Jones newswires, another federal class action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles has charged ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell and other oil companies are selling ethanol blended gasoline that damages marine fuel tanks, engines and other components.