(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the attorney general of Massachusetts to obtain records from Exxon Mobil Corp(XOM.N) to probe whether the oil company for decades concealed its knowledge of the role fossil fuels play in climate change.
FILE PHOTO: A logo of the Exxon Mobil Corp is seen at the Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
The justices declined to hear Exxon’s appeal of a ruling by the top court in Massachusetts holding that state Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, had jurisdiction to seek records to probe whether the company misled consumers and investors.
The high court’s action marked the latest setback for Exxon in its efforts to halt the Massachusetts investigation and a similar one by New York’s attorney general, who in October filed a lawsuit against the company.
New York’s lawsuit accused Exxon of engaging in a systematic scheme to deceive investors about the impact that future climate change regulations could have on its business. Exxon has called the claims “meritless.”
The Massachusetts and New York investigations were launched following 2015 news reports that Exxon’s own scientists had determined that fossil fuel combustion must be reduced to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Those news reports, by Inside Climate News and the Los Angeles Times, were based on documents from the 1970s and 1980s. Exxon said the documents were not inconsistent with its public positions.
Healey in 2016 issued a civil investigative demand to Exxon seeking documents to investigate whether it had violated the state’s consumer-protection law through its marketing and sale of fossil fuel products.
Exxon said that because it is incorporated in Texas and New Jersey, Healey had no basis to seek documents to conduct a Massachusetts-based investigation.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in April held that jurisdiction existed because of Exxon’s control over advertising conducted for about 300 franchise gas stations operating under the Exxon and Mobil brands in Massachusetts.
Exxon has called the Massachusetts and New York investigations politically motivated.
Reporting by Nate Raymond and Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham
Thanx Nate Raymond & Lawerance Hyrley
Knight Jonny
That is awesome. if we can get the courts on our side, we have won the argument. You can bet your last dollar Exxon has always know that combusting oil produces carbon dioxide and that it messes with the troposphere. I do not think that Exxon can win this one, do you?? Oil companies...watch your butts. The court is out to get you now.
ReplyDeleteGood work Knight Jonny
Love Knight AJ
Aunt Jeannie ,
ReplyDeleteWe got the courts on our side , thank goodness most of the have taken their heads out of the sand and washed the sand from their eyes . Rick Perry knew what the oil was doing , he ran against Mr. Trump , Mr . Trump made him a cabinet member which is a losing team .
Thank you very much Knight Aunt Jeannie
Knight Jonny