Exxon Loses Procedural Fight Against Minnesota in Climate Case

Minnesota’s lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corp. and other oil and gas interests belongs in state court, a federal judge ruled Wednesday in a loss for the industry.

“States have both the clear authority and primary competence to adjudicate alleged violations of state common law and consumer protection statutes, and a complex injury does not a federal action make,” Chief Judge John R. Tunheim wrote, remanding the case to state court.

The ruling is the latest setback for Big Oil as it faces more than a dozen climate liability cases in state and federal courts nationwide. A related procedural question is ...