US judge dismisses Michigan climate lawsuit against oil companies
A US judge dismissed on Tuesday an antitrust suit in which Michigan accused four major oil firms of colluding to forestall competition in renewable energy, such as 'electric vehicles. This decision was in line with previous rulings in similar lawsuits.
US District Judge Jane Beckering, in Grand Rapids, rejected the lawsuit filed by Michigan Attorney-General Dana Nessel in January, a Democrat. The suit was against BP, Chevron Exxon Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute.
The?judge ruled that antitrust laws do not protect against any of the damages for which Michigan sought a remedy.
Beckering stated that "the distance between the alleged conspiracy and Michigan and its residents overcharges is too large to find the conspiracy as the cause of the overcharges."
In the complaint, the companies claimed that they wanted to "restrain" the development of electric vehicles in the United States and the use of renewable primary energy sources.
Other judges have also rejected similar climate suits, including in Delaware.
Chevron's lawyer previously called Michigan's lawsuit "baseless" as shown by the multiple court dismissals related to it.
Chevron and other companies have fought for years against lawsuits brought by local and state governments that seek to hold them accountable for climate change. Many of these cases are still pending.
The Trump administration reversed the policies of the Biden administration by taking a series of actions that make it easier for automakers to avoid building electric cars and to increase their cost to consumers.
(source: Reuters)
