San Diego

A San Diego man who operated a San Carlos gas station that was later converted to an AM/PM Mini-Mart was awarded more than $4 million in damages Tuesday.

Superior Court Judge Douglas R. Woodworth ordered that Atlantic Richfield Co. pay John V. Nielsen $525,000 in compensatory damages and $3.5 million in punitive damages for giving him false information to induce him to convert his gas station to an AM/PM minimarket.

In 1979, Neilsen entered into an agreement with Atlantic Richfield to give up his gas station on the corner on Golfcrest and Jackson Drives and convert it to a combination convenience store and gas station.

The venture failed after 20 months. Nielsen has since been working as an auto mechanic. His attorneys, George J. Berger and Kenneth C. Turek, said that Arco gave Nielsen false population information to entice him with the deal.

Arco attorneys contended the failure was due to poor management and said the corporation will appeal the decision.