Supreme Court Will Review Ruling in Baltimore Climate Liability Suit

Three Appeals Courts Have Allowed Climate Liability Cases to Proceed in State Court, Despite Big Oil’s Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court today announced that it will review a lower court ruling that allowed a climate damages lawsuit brought by the City of Baltimore against major oil and gas companies to proceed in state court. 

The defendants in the case — including BP, Exxon, Chevron, and Shell — are asking the Supreme Court to overturn a March ruling from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that found the appellate court has limited scope to review whether the case belongs in state or federal court. 

It was the first time the Supreme Court had been asked to review this issue in one of the growing number of climate liability lawsuits brought in state court, which Big Oil defendants have repeatedly sought to move to federal court. The case is BP P.L.C., et al. v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. 

Richard Wiles, executive director of the Center for Climate Integrity, released the following statement: 

“Fossil fuel executives will do anything to avoid having to explain to a jury in state court how they knew and then lied about climate change. That is why they’ve fought to delay these cases and push them to federal court.

“By agreeing to consider this issue, the Supreme Court now has the opportunity to affirm three unanimous appeals court rulings and establish a nationwide precedent for climate lawsuits against Big Oil.”