A District of Columbia judge on Thursday had questions for both sides of a fight over the responsibility of Chevron and other energy giants to foot the bill for climate change impacts.
During the hearing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Yvonne Williams considered industry lawyers’ arguments that the case — one of dozens like it across the country — should be dismissed. She said she would reach a ruling in 4 to 6 weeks.
Attorneys for the oil companies noted that several judges nationwide have dismissed similar climate liability lawsuits against major oil and gas producers such as Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP, finding that the state courts in which the cases were originally filed are not the proper venue for the litigation.
If they are successful, the lawsuits have the potential to cost the fossil fuel industry hundreds of billions of dollars.
