Judge rules against NYC in lawsuit against oil companies
A New York state judge dismissed the city’s lawsuit claiming Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP misled the public about fossil fuels' role in climate change, saying the city failed to prove its case.
Lesley Clark reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Justice Anar Patel ruled the city’s evidence did not show oil companies deceived consumers about the climate impacts of their products.
- The court found that statements cited by the city, including marketing claims about cleaner energy, were either opinions or legally inactionable.
- The decision follows similar rulings in Maryland and Delaware that dismissed parts of climate liability lawsuits against oil companies.
Key quote:
“Our complaint alleged that these defendants spent millions to mislead consumers to think that they, and their products, contribute to a clean energy future. They do not."
— Nicholas Paolucci, New York City Law Department
Why this matters:
The ruling weakens efforts by cities to hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for climate-related damages. If courts continue to dismiss similar cases, it could hinder attempts to shift the cost of climate mitigation from taxpayers to polluting industries.
Related: Judge dismisses New York's plastic pollution lawsuit against PepsiCo
