Pennsylvania Court Tosses County Climate Suit Against Oil Majors

A state judge dismissed a county’s climate tort lawsuit against major oil and gas companies, joining other local benches who have rejected similar lawsuits across the US.

Judge Stephen A. Corr of the Pennsylvania Court for Common Pleas ruled on May 16 that Bucks County, Pa., does have capacity to sue, but ultimately had to dismiss its climate tort lawsuit, ruling that the state court does not have power over interstate emissions.

Bucks County alleged in its March complaint that BP P.L.C., Chevron Corp., Shell PLC and other defendants “promoted and profited from their deceptive conduct” while the ...