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Commonwealth of Puerto Rico v. Exxon Mobil Corp.
Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico v. Exxon Mobil Corp. ↗
SJ2024CV06512P.R. TPI1 entry
Filing Date
Type
Action Taken
Document
Summary
07/15/2024
Complaint
Complaint filed.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico filed a complaint in the Puerto Rico Court of First Instance alleging that fossil fuel industry defendants engaged in “successful climate deception campaigns” that misled consumers and the public about the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, which “had the purpose and effect of inflating and sustaining the market for fossil fuels and delaying the transition to lower carbon energy sources, which—in turn—drove up greenhouse gas emissions, accelerated global warming, and brought about devastating climate change consequences in the Commonwealth.” The complaint alleged that Puerto Rico and its residents have already incurred substantial expenses to clean up climate change-induced disasters like Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and will continue to spend substantial sums to adapt to the future consequences of climate change, such as sea level rise, extreme heat events, more frequent and intense storms, and ocean acidification. Puerto Rico alleged that the “Defendants’ tortious and deceptive conduct” exacerbated climate change in Puerto Rico, without which “the current physical and environmental changes caused by global warming would have been far less than those observed to date” and the “effects that will occur in the future would also be far less detrimental or would be avoided entirely.” The complaint asserted six causes of action: public nuisance, violations of the Environmental Public Policy Law, negligence and wrongful conduct, strict liability for failure to warn, punitive damages, and deceptive trade practices in violation of Puerto Rico’s Antitrust Law. The complaint requested compensatory damages; equitable relief, including abatement of the nuisances; punitive damages; injunctive relief; and the costs of suit.
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico v. Exxon Mobil Corp. ↗
3:24-cv-01393D.P.R.9 entries
Filing Date
Type
Action Taken
Document
Summary
05/02/2025
Notice Of Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of voluntary dismissal filed by Puerto Rico.
On May 2, 2025, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico voluntarily dismissed without prejudice its climate change lawsuit against fossil fuel industry defendants. The filing did not comment on reasons for the withdrawal. The voluntary dismissal came several weeks after President Trump issued the “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach” <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-06379">executive order</a> directing the U.S. Attorney General to take action to stop continuation of civil actions brought by states that burden use of domestic energy resources and two days after the U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits seeking to block the States of <a href="https://climatecasechart.com/case/united-states-v-hawaii/">Hawai‘i</a> and <a href="https://climatecasechart.com/case/united-states-v-michigan/">Michigan</a> from filing climate lawsuits against fossil fuel companies. On April 25, 2025, American Energy Institute—a trade organization “representing American energy producers, suppliers, and affiliated businesses that support free markets”—sent a <a href="https://americanenergyinstitute.com/updates/dear-governor-gonzales-colon/">letter</a> to Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón, who was elected in November 2024 and is a member of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico and the Republican Party. The letter urged the Governor to direct the Secretary of Justice to withdraw Puerto Rico’s lawsuit, to file amicus briefs in lawsuits brought by San Juan and other Puerto Rican municipalities in support of dismissal of the cases with prejudice, to appoint judges “who will respect the separation of powers and leave political issues to the democratically elected branches,” and to discourage state contracts with outside counsel “who are using public legal engagements to advance far-left political objectives.”
04/01/2025
Response
Response filed by Puerto Rico to defendants' second notice of supplemental authority.
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03/20/2025
Notice
Second notice of supplemental authority filed by defendants in opposition to plaintiff's motion to remand.
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03/03/2025
Response
Response filed by Puerto Rico to defendants' notice of supplemental authority.
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