Exxon Must Defend Sierra Club’s California Nuisance Lawsuit (1)

Exxon Mobil Corp. couldn’t convince a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by Sierra Club Inc. and other environmental groups alleging it created a public nuisance by producing plastic polymers and spreading them throughout California.

The nonprofits adequately claimed Exxon foresaw harm resulting from its single-use plastics, Chief Judge Richard Seeborg of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said in a Sept. 5 order.

The groups, however, failed to adequately allege that Exxon’s conduct violated California’s Unfair Competition Law. They have 30 days to amend that claim, the order said.

Sierra Club and three other environmental ...