The federal district court for the Northern District of California granted in part and denied in part Exxon Mobil Corporation’s (Exxon’s) motion to dismiss environmental organizations’ lawsuit seeking to hold Exxon liable for its alleged contributions to plastic pollution in California. The organizations’ complaint included allegations regarding the greenhouse gas emissions associated with “advanced recycling.” The court rejected Exxon’s contention that it lacked personal jurisdiction over Exxon and found that the environmental groups’ complaint adequately stated a public nuisance claim with allegations that Exxon’s conduct was a “substantial factor” in California’s “plastic pollution crisis” and that Exxon foresaw the harm that allegedly had resulted from its single-use plastics business. The court dismissed the organizations’ claim of Unfair Competition Law violations but denied Exxon’s motion to strike allegations under California’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) law. The court found that anti-SLAPP law’s Public Interest Exemption applied.

Environmental groups' lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corporation in connection with the company's plastic operations.

Sierra Club v. Exxon Mobil Corp.

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California Federal Court Allowed Environmental Groups to Proceed with Plastic Pollution Nuisance Claim Against Exxon

Filed

United States of America

California

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California Federal Court Allowed Environmental Groups to Proceed with Plastic Pollution Nuisance Claim Against Exxon

Risk

Just transition

Fossil fuel

Economic sector

Finance