Oil Companies Lose Jurisdiction Bid in Maryland Climate Cases

BP PLC and other oil companies failed to convince a Maryland district judge that two climate liability cases out of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Md., belong in federal courts.

Judge Stephanie Gallagher of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland sent the pair of lawsuits back to state courts where they were filed, ruling Thursday that companies failed “to provide grounds for federal jurisdiction.”

Gallagher also denied a motion to freeze the case while the Supreme Court weighs petitions in similar cases from Colorado, citing a lack of irreparable harm.

“Defendants argue that Plaintiffs craft their complaint ...