Pilot Flying J to repay trucking companies Pilot Flying J to repay trucking companies ADVERTISING NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The truck-stop company owned by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has agreed to pay back the trucking companies that were cheated out
Pilot Flying J to repay trucking companies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The truck-stop company owned by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has agreed to pay back the trucking companies that were cheated out of fuel rebates, according to a settlement given preliminary approval Tuesday.
Under the agreement approved by a federal judge in Arkansas, Pilot Flying J would pay the companies what they are owed with interest.
Federal agents raided the Knoxville headquarters of Pilot Flying J earlier this year after an employee claimed the nation’s largest diesel retailer was systematically cheating its clients. Five employees have since pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Jimmy Halsam is the brother of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who has an undisclosed ownership share in the company. Both have denied any wrongdoing, and the company didn’t acknowledge wrongdoing in the settlement.
Under the terms of the preliminary settlement, Pilot Flying J would pay all legal fees and other expenses. That includes the cost of auditing the accounts and then auditing the auditors.
Pilot spokesman Tom Ingram said the company expects the total number of customers who are owed money will be a relatively small percentage of Pilot’s more-than-4,000 customers. So far, 22 class-action lawsuits have been filed against Pilot Flying J, one of which was dismissed.
Brooklyn Nets coach
Kidd gets probation for DWI
HAMPTON BAYS, N.Y. — Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge and was placed on interim probation a year after he smashed his Cadillac SUV into a utility pole on eastern Long Island.
In exchange for the guilty plea, Kidd agreed to speak to Long Island high school students about the dangers of drunken driving. If he fulfills his community service, his plea will be reduced to a violation, driving while ability impaired, when he returns to court Sept. 30.
Kidd, who retired as an NBA player after last season, was recently hired to coach the Nets — the team he took to two NBA Finals as a player when the franchise played in New Jersey.
Kidd could have received three years’ probation, but a better alternative was reached, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said outside court.
USBSF probing nightclub
incident involving Jones
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation is looking into a nightclub altercation that allegedly involved Olympic hopeful Lolo Jones.
Jones reportedly argued early Saturday with a woman before bouncers at the Roomers club separated them. Police say no charges were filed.
USBSF spokeswoman Amanda Bird says the federation is interviewing athletes and witnesses and would act if needed when the process ends.
Jones did not return requests for comment.
Jones is an Olympic hurdler entering her second bobsled season.
Top Mavs pick Larkin has
surgery on broken ankle
DALLAS — Mavericks rookie guard Shane Larkin has undergone surgery to repair his broken right ankle.
The team says Drs. T.O. Souryal and Richard Levy performed the surgery at Texas Sports Medicine in Dallas on Tuesday. Recovery time is expected to be about three months.
The former Miami point guard was the 18th pick in last month’s draft. He was injured Friday in the last practice before the team flew to Las Vegas for summer league games.
The son of Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin is expected to battle for the backup job behind Jose Calderon, who signed with Dallas as a free agent.
Kings acquire F Carcillo
from Blackhawks
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings have acquired forward Daniel Carcillo in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks, who beat the Kings in the Western Conference finals on their way to the Stanley Cup title, received a conditional selection in the 2015 draft.
The 28-year-old Carcillo had two goals and an assist in 23 games this season with Chicago. He had one assist in four playoff games.
Carcillo, who was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2003 draft, has 40 goals and 47 assists in 333 games over seven seasons with Phoenix, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Serena Williams advances
to second round in Bastad
BASTAD, Sweden — Top-ranked Serena Williams advanced to the second round of the Swedish Open by beating Sesil Karatancheva of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday.
Williams broke the 131st-ranked Karatancheva’s serve five times to advance at the clay-court tournament on Sweden’s west coast.
She will next face 104th-ranked Anna Tatishvili of Georgia, who beat 16-year-old Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Third-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic, sixth-seeded Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine, Mathilda Johansson of France, Teliana Pereira of Brazil and Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands also advanced.
Beck beats Peer to reach
Gastein Ladies second round
BAD GASTEIN, Austria — Second-seeded Annika Beck of Germany overcame 12 double-faults to beat Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the Gastein Ladies on Tuesday.
Beck, who earned a top-50 ranking for the first time this week after her fourth quarterfinal of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, was broken four times but saved eight other break points.
Beck next plays Mandy Minella of Luxembourg, who defeated Dia Evtimova of Bulgaria 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
Petra Martic of Croatia rallied to beat former champion Andrea Petkovic 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3. Martic will face Patricia Mayr-Achleitner in the second round.
The Austrian defeated Tereza Mrdeza of Croatia 6-4, 6-3.
Paire beats Montanes
to reach third round
HAMBURG, Germany — Ninth-seeded Benoit Paire of France advanced to the third round of the German Tennis Championships on Tuesday by beating Albert Montanes of Spain 6-1, 6-4.
Gael Monfils beat 2010 Hamburg champion Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-3 to make the second round of the clay-court tournament. Golubev had to qualify for this year’s event.
Among other first-round winners were Federico Delbonis of Argentina, Robin Haase of the Netherlands, Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia, Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany and three Spaniards — Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Albert Ramos and Marcel Granollers.
Bucks waive Gooden
by amnesty clause
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks have waived forward Drew Gooden and designated him as their amnesty player.
Gooden had two years and about $13.4 million remaining on his contact. He still receives the money, but it doesn’t count against the Bucks for salary cap purposes.
Gooden signed with the Bucks in 2010, and the 11-year veteran averaged 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in 107 games.
From wire sources
