California’s lawsuit seeking to recover damages from five of the largest oil companies will be waged in a San Francisco federal court, a result seen by both sides as a crucial victory for Chevron, BP, Exxon, ConocoPhillips and Shell.
A federal judge ruled Feb. 27 that plaintiffs’ claims are federal questions that must be heard in accordance with U.S. law, not state law.
California sought to have the case argued in a state court where local laws may have yielded more favorable results.
The state alleges that the companies’ combustion of fossil fuels increased harmful emissions contributing to global warming. ...