Chevron Climate Change Suit Returns to Rhode Island State Court

Chevron Corp. will have to defend itself in state court against Rhode Island’s suit arguing Chevron should pay for contributing to climate change, after a federal court agreed with the state that it couldn’t accept the case.

Rhode Island raised eight different legal claims in its lawsuit in state court, all based on state law. But Chevron still told the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island that it should take the case, pointing to federal aspects of the suit.

The federal court refused, noting Rhode Island’s initial complaint didn’t raise a federal question “on its face” because ...