The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a petition filed by 19 Republican state attorneys general seeking to block Connecticut and four other states from pursuing lawsuits against ExxonMobil for allegedly deceiving consumers about the climate impacts of its products.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong hailed the decision, calling the petition a “total loser” and a distraction from addressing the climate crisis. “This was a failed attempt to divert attention from the real threats to the health and safety of Connecticut families,” Tong said. “Our case is simple and strong—ExxonMobil must be held accountable for the massive harm caused by their deception to our environment, public health, and economy.”
Connecticut’s lawsuit, filed in September 2020 under the state’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, accuses ExxonMobil of misleading consumers about the climate risks associated with its products and business practices. ExxonMobil has repeatedly tried to move the case to federal court and dismiss it for lack of jurisdiction, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled the case belongs in Connecticut state court. The Connecticut Superior Court also denied ExxonMobil’s motion to dismiss.
