US supreme court to hear big oil’s bid to block climate damage lawsuits
Summary
The US Supreme Court will hear a case where big oil companies, like ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy, want to stop state-level climate change lawsuits. Local officials in Boulder, Colorado, are suing these companies to make them pay for climate damage costs. The court will decide if federal law stops state courts from handling these cases.Key Facts
- Boulder County sued ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy in state court, claiming they hid information about the harms of fossil fuels.
- The companies argue federal law blocks state courts from hearing such climate lawsuits.
- The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case while the lawsuit is still active in state court, which is unusual.
- If the court supports the oil companies, it could end many similar climate lawsuits in states across the US.
- The companies claim the federal Clean Air Act stops these state legal actions, but that law usually lets states control local air pollution.
- The oil companies also argue there is a “federal common law” that covers environmental cases beyond state rules.
- Historically, courts have rejected similar attempts by tobacco and opioid companies to block state lawsuits.
- The Supreme Court will first decide if it has the right to hear the case now and if federal law cancels Boulder’s state lawsuit.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
