Judge Dismisses New York City's Suit Against Oil Companies
July 19 2018 - 7:10PM
Dow Jones News
By Gerald Porter Jr.
A federal judge in Manhattan dismissed New York City's lawsuit
against five major oil companies Thursday, ruling that climate
change and its effects are global issues that extend beyond the
court's reach.
Judge John Keenan's decision is the latest in a string of
similar cases to hit significant roadblocks. Lawsuits filed by the
cities of Oakland and San Francisco against the same five
companies, which also sought relief for the costs of addressing
climate change, was tossed last month.
In January, the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio, a
Democrat, filed the suit, alleging the companies -- Chevron Corp.,
BP PLC, ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, and Exxon Mobil
Corp. -- knowingly ignored the effects of fossil fuel production
and played them down to consumers.
The administration asked for billions of dollars in damages,
money it said was required to redress mounting environmental
problems in the city.
Defense attorneys countered that blaming the oil companies for
the magnitude of global fossil-fuel emissions would be
impossible.
"Trying to resolve a complex, global policy issue like climate
change through litigation is 'illogical,' and would intrude on the
powers of Congress and the executive branch," said Chevron attorney
Theodore Boutrous Jr.
In his decision, Judge Keenan said global warming and its
solutions should be handled at the federal and international levels
and by policy makers. While climate change is a "harmful"
phenomenon, he said the city's claim that oil companies are the
"top sources of [greenhouse gas] pollution in the world" should be
discussed at the international level.
"The immense and complicated problem of global warming requires
a comprehensive solution that weighs the global benefits of fossil
fuel use with the gravity of the impending harms," Judge Keenan
said.
A spokesperson for Exxon Mobil Corp. said: "We have said all
along that addressing the risks of climate change is a serious
global challenge that should be addressed by policy makers and not
by the courts."
Mr. de Blasio's administration plans to appeal the decision.
"The mayor believes big polluters must be held accountable for
their contributions to climate change and the damage it will cause
New York City," a spokesperson said.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 19, 2018 18:55 ET (22:55 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
BP (NYSE:BP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
BP (NYSE:BP)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024