A federal judge has ordered mediation for a half-dozen lawsuits by trucking companies remaining against the truckstop chain Pilot Flying J, according to published reports.

The fleets are among those that opted out of an $85 million class action settlement last year with Pilot Flying J over claims it cheated carriers out of money in the form of rebates from fuel purchases.

The move by U.S. District Judge Amul Thapar in federal court in Kentucky did not offer up any reason for the order, however, he earlier said trucking companies could not move forward with discovery efforts in the lawsuits that were consolidated before Pilot Flying J had an opportunity to have them dismissed.

This comes following the company recently agreeing to pay $92 million to the federal government to avoid prosecution following an April 2013 raid on its headquarters by the FBI and IRS. The settlement does not allow individuals to escape prosecution.

Ten former employees have pleaded guilty to charges, but have yet to be sentenced and are reportedly cooperating with investigators.

Read more about it from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

0 Comments