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The Climate Litigation Database

Native Village of Kivalina v. ExxonMobil Corp.

About this cases

Filing year
2008
Status
Rehearing en banc denied.
Docket number
09-17490
Court/admin entity
United StatesUnited States Federal CourtsUnited States Ninth Circuit (9th Cir.)
Case category
AdaptationActions seeking money damages for lossesCommon Law Claims
Principal law
United StatesFederal Common Law—NuisanceUnited StatesState Law—Nuisance
At issue
Action by native Alaskans seeking damages from oil and power companies for impacts of climate change on their village.

Documents

Filing Date
Type
Action Taken
Summary
Document
09/21/2012
Decision
Opinion issued affirming dismissal.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit by Inupiat Native Alaskans seeking to recover money damages from a number of energy companies for greenhouse gas emissions from the companies’ products that plaintiffs alleged caused eroded sea ice where the plaintiffs' village is located. The appeals court held that plaintiffs could not sue under a theory of public nuisance given that it had been displaced by the Clean Air Act.

Summary

Action by native Alaskans seeking damages from oil and power companies for impacts of climate change on their village.