AmeriGas and Blue Rhino’s Propane Cylinder Exchange Program

May 2017: The appeal was voluntarily dismissed, the reasons for which have not been disclosed.

June 2016: Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal regarding the dismissal of this case.

May 2016: A federal judge dismissed this action finding that plaintiffs cannot state a plausible claim.

October 2014: A class-action lawsuit was filed against AmeriGas and Blue Rhino for allegedly deceptively marketing the propane cylinder exchange program. Among other things, the complaint alleges that the program offers consumers a full propane cylinder (i.e., a pre-filled 20-pound propane cylinder used to fuel barbeque grills, outdoor heaters, outdoor lamps, and other household uses) in exchange for an empty one when, in reality, the propane cylinders are never empty because there is always unused propane that is inaccessible to consumers. (Hawkins et al v. UGI Corporation, AmeriGas Propane, Inc., AmeriGas Propane, L.P., AmeriGas Partners, L.P. dba AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange, Ferrellgas Company Inc., Ferrellgas, L.P. dba Blue Rhino LLC, Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas Finance Corp., Case No. 14-cv-08461, C.D. Cal.).