Big Oil Must Fight Baltimore Climate Change Suit in State Court

BP PLC and other multinational oil and gas companies will have to defend a climate change lawsuit brought by Baltimore in state court, a federal judge ruled.

Baltimore’s mayor and city council sued two dozen companies in state court, claiming that city’s spot on Maryland’s coastline is threatened by rising sea levels and increased storm threats traceable to greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the oil companies’ arguments that federal law, questions, and issues were at play, the city’s complaint was properly grounded in Maryland law, Judge Ellen Hollander said June 11 for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. ...