National Wildlife Federation v. Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation
The Sixth Circuit reversed, 2-1, a district court ruling that required the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to comply with the ESA and NEPA before approving an oil pipeline operator's response plans for addressing the risk of a potential oil spill. A conservation group ...
Massachusetts, Commonwealth of v. Exxon Mobil Corp.
A district court remanded back to state court Massachusetts' consumer protection lawsuit concerning an oil company's accounting of climate change risks. The state argued that the company misled and deceived its investors and consumers about the climate risks of fossil fuel products, and moved to rem...
Earth Island Institute v. Wheeler
A district court denied EPA's motion to dismiss a lawsuit concerning its duty to update its National Contingency Plan (NCP) for addressing oil and hazardous substance contamination. Environmental groups argued that the current NCP is dangerous because it continues to permit the use of chemical dispe...
San Mateo v. Chevron Corp.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed in part a district court ruling granting California counties' and cities' motions to remand to state court a lawsuit against oil companies alleging nuisance and other causes of action arising from the role of fossil fuel products in global warming. The companies argued the...
Oakland v. BP PLC
The Ninth Circuit vacated and remanded a district court ruling denying San Francisco's and Oakland's motion to remand to state court a lawsuit alleging that oil companies make and sell products that create a public nuisance—sea-level rise—when combusted. The cities argued the district court erre...