US Supreme Court wrestles with oil companies' bid to scuttle climate lawsuit
The justices are weighing whether federal law bars Boulder’s damages claims, with billions of dollars and dozens of similar climate suits at stake.
- On October 5, the Supreme Court will hear Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, where Boulder, Colorado seeks damages from Suncor and Exxon Mobil for climate-related harms including wildfires and droughts.
- Boulder alleges Suncor and ExxonMobil misled the public about climate change impacts, claiming the companies "knowingly" altered the climate through "producing, promoting, refining, marketing and selling fossil fuels."
- The companies argue the Clean Air Act grants federal authority over interstate emissions, while critics call the lawsuit "lawfare" by using courts to set national climate policy instead of Congress.
- Former Attorney General Bill Barr argues the case risks "potentially crushing monetary liability" for energy firms, warning that state lawsuits would improperly grant courts policymaking authority.
- Justices will determine if the Clean Air Act preempts state-law claims, revisiting the 2011 American Electric Power v. Connecticut ruling which previously limited court-ordered emission reductions.
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Supreme Court weighs local governments’ climate change lawsuits against oil and gas companies - WXXV News 25
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and MATTHEW DALY WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court grappled Monday with whether local governments can sue oil and gas companies in state court to help cover costs associated with climate change, an issue with potentially billions of dollars at stake. Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions...
SUPREME COURT SHOWDOWN: Boulder's Climate Lawsuit Against Big Oil Could BANKRUPT Every American Business, Kavanaugh Warns
The Supreme Court opened its new term Monday with a high-stakes battle over whether Boulder County's climate lawsuit against ExxonMobil and Suncor belongs in state or federal court — a case with billions on the line and implications for every manufacturer in America.
The energy company seeks to avoid lawsuits for climate damage in the US, arguing that they could influence energy policies. Boulder County accuses firms of hiding the impact of fossils, demanding compensation for natural disasters.
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