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Puerto Rico Judge Dismisses Climate Case Against Energy Majors

Hart Energy · last updated

A Puerto Rican judge threw out a case against some of the world’s biggest energy companies, brought by 37 island cities that charged the firms were promulgating global warming.

Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell and ConocoPhillips were among the defendants. The plaintiffs based the racketeering and antitrust (RICO) charges on claims that the companies had misrepresented the dangers of fossil fuels and climate change, thus causing the damages of two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico in 2017.

The case was filed in 2022, and the judge ruled that the claims had been filed too late.

Judge Carreño-Coll threw out the claims against Exxon, Shell, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips, Motiva Enterprises and a racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) charge against the American Petroleum Institute, according to a report by Law360.

The complaints were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they can not be refiled. Carreño-Coll did dismiss some charges against other defendants without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled.

An attorney for the plaintiffs said they would appeal the decision.

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