Press Releases
October 29, 2020
PROVIDENCE, RI — In the fourth consecutive appeals court defeat for Big Oil, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit today ruled that Rhode Island’s lawsuit seeking to hold Chevron, Exxon, and other major fossil fuel companies accountable for knowingly causing climate change damages should proceed in state court, where it was originally filed.
The First Circuit now joins the Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth circuits in ruling that climate damages lawsuits brought against Big Oil under state law belong in state court.
The decision comes less than a month after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider the scope of review applicable to federal court removal in the city of Baltimore’s lawsuit against oil and gas majors.
Richard Wiles, executive director of the Center for Climate Integrity, released the following statement:
“Big Oil has failed once again to move a climate damages case out of state court, where the companies are terrified of being held accountable for their deception.
“These fossil fuel companies knowingly caused the climate crisis that is engulfing the nation, and the people of Rhode Island deserve their day in court to hold the industry accountable.
“This ruling is more evidence of the momentum behind climate accountability cases, as Big Oil now faces lawsuits for lying about climate change from more than 20 communities across the nation."