Ace Breaking News – U.S Supreme Court is Considering the Future of ClimateChange Lawsuits according to Mara Hoplamazian, The Washington Sun
The US supreme court will hear arguments today in a case that could “block one of the last remaining legal paths for holding fossil-fuel companies responsible for damage from climate change”, reports the Washington Sun.
It continues: “The case, Suncor Energy vs Boulder County, centres on a procedural question of whether the companies must face lawsuits in state courts, or if federal law precludes those. The answer could shape the future of claims from dozens of states, counties and cities seeking to use state laws to recoup billions of dollars for the costs associated with climate disasters such as fires and floods.” In what the newspaper calls an “unusual move”, the supreme court is reviewing the issue “before the case has gone to trial and before a state court has made a final judgement”.
Nearly 60 state and local governments have brought similar suits seeking billions of dollars from fossil-fuel companies, says Reuters, adding: “A ruling…in favour of the companies could lead to many of those cases being dismissed.” Last week, Justice Samuel Alito announced he was withdrawing from the case, notes the Los Angeles Times. It says Alito did not say why, but adds that he owns stock in other oil companies that could be affected by the court’s decision. CNN reports on why environmentalists “aren’t yet” writing off Justice Clarence Thomas – one of the court’s “most stalwart conservative” – even though he has consistently sided against them. The Associated Press, Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today and CNN all have the story.
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