- Minnesota AG Keith Ellison sued ExxonMobil Corp., the American Petroleum Institute, Koch Industries, Inc., Flint Hills Resources LP, and Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend (collectively “Defendants”) for allegedly deceiving the public on the impact of fossil fuels on climate change in violation of the Consumer Fraud Act and False Statements in Advertising Act, among other things.
- The complaint alleges that, among other things, Defendants knowingly hid the warnings of internal experts about the costs and consequences of fossil fuel consumption, and paid third parties to promote false information and funded fraudulent science to raise doubts about the link between greenhouse emissions and climate change. The complaint also alleges that Defendants’ actions adversely impacted Minnesota’s environment, ecosystem, infrastructure, and public health.
- Separately, DC AG Karl Racine also sued Exxon Mobil, as well as BP, Chevron Corporation, and Shell Oil Corporation, and related parents and subsidiaries, for allegedly systematically and intentionally misleading District consumers about the role their products play in causing climate change; the DC complaint is similar to that filed by Minnesota AG Ellison.
- As previously reported, in December 2019, Exxon prevailed in a suit brought by New York AG Letitia James over allegations that Exxon violated the Martin Act by misleading investors about the risks associated with fossil fuel-related climate change.