Siegel v. Shell Oil Co.

Dist. Ct. did not err in denying plaintiff's request for class certification in action seeking relief under Ill. Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act where plaintiff alleged that defendants engaged in unfair conduct by manipulating gasoline supplies, which caused plaintiff to purchase gas at artificially inflated prices. Class certification request was properly denied where Dist. Ct. would be required to ask each class member to identify motivation for purchasing gas from particular supplier. Moreover, Dist. Ct. properly granted defendants' motion for summary judgment as to plaintiff's individual claim where plaintiff's admission that he could and did purchase gas from non-defendants undercut his contention that he had no meaningful opportunity to avoid paying higher retail prices.