Independent Operators Stand To Lose Investments In Amoco Stations; Want Public To Know Why Company Wants Them Out PR Newswire -- September 2, 2002 Boca Raton, Fla., September 2/PRNewswire/ -- Labor Day is not going to be a very happy day for nine Amoco gas station operators facing eviction in South Florida. They see themselves as David's trying to prevent a Goliath from kicking them out of successful businesses in which they've invested most of their retirement savings thinking they had a great deal, said TransMedia Group Chairman Thomas J. Madden. In lawsuits filed against Amoco, they charge the giant oil company used fraud and deception to get them to invest in long-term leases, which turned out to be surprisingly much shorter. To get their story out, the group has retained TransMedia, a leading public relations firm. "There could only be one reason why BP Amoco wants to take these stations away from us. It's because we invested our money, worked hard and made them successful," said Moe Mirzadeh, a 20-year Amoco dealer who's fighting to save his two stations in West Palm Beach. "When they were trying to get me to switch from a dealer to their new commission program, they told me that as long as I did a good job and didn't break any laws or Amoco's rules, Amoco would renew my Agreement every four years, or I could sell my station for 'blue sky,'" said Mirzadeh. After telling me what an outstanding operator I've been, I receive an eviction notice and I can't sell my station. I'm not only disappointed, I'm heart broken as I've invested most of my retirement savings." "Like too many corporate deals these days, here's another one that apparently went sour unexpectedly, said Madden. "Now these operators face staggering personal losses if they lose their legal battle in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale against the giant oil company. "Our mission will be to let the public know about the business practices of large corporations like BP Amoco as they were applied to little guys to get them to invest in new types of marketing commission programs." In his lawsuit, Mirzadeh charges the oil company tricked him into believing he would have three consecutive four-year renewable leases, but "they pulled the rug out from under me after only four years. I was counting on those eight more years for my retirement." Contact: Michelle Rosen (561) 750-9800, ext. 14 MRosen@transmediagroup.com