A Connecticut Superior Court judge has denied ExxonMobil’s motion to strike the state’s lawsuit accusing the company of misleading the public about climate change. The decision, issued by Judge John B. Farley, allows Attorney General William Tong’s case against ExxonMobil to proceed.
Attorney General Tong originally filed suit in September 2020 under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). The lawsuit alleges that ExxonMobil engaged in a long-term campaign to mislead consumers about the impact of fossil fuels on climate change.
ExxonMobil had previously attempted to move the case to federal court but was unsuccessful both at the district court level and before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The company did not appeal further to the U.S. Supreme Court. Afterward, ExxonMobil filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction in state court, which was also denied.
The most recent legal effort by ExxonMobil involved a motion to strike Connecticut’s claims, arguing that they were precluded by federal law, insufficient under CUTPA, and barred by First Amendment protections. Judge Farley rejected all these arguments.
“ExxonMobil is throwing the kitchen sink at us, trying every angle to invalidate our case. Once again, they have failed on every count. Our case is simple and strong—ExxonMobil amassed billions of dollars in profits off a decades-long campaign of lies, and they must be held accountable. We are in the midst of discovery and are aggressively prosecuting this case in Connecticut to uncover and expose ExxonMobil’s lies and to hold the company accountable for the harm their deception has caused,” said Attorney General Tong.
