In a significant development for the American energy sector, a prominent lawsuit charging major oil companies with deceiving the public about climate change’s effects was unexpectedly dropped by the plaintiffs. The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), representing West Coast commercial fishermen, withdrew the legal challenge following U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria’s decision on November 1 that the case was eligible for federal court consideration, countering PCFFA’s preference for a state court trial.
The litigation, initiated in November 2018, was a pioneering effort to hold the energy industry responsible for allegedly misleading the public on climate change science and the role of fossil fuels. The PCFFA contended that climate change, exacerbated by fossil fuels, had dire consequences on marine life and those whose livelihoods depended on ocean-based industries. The lawsuit cited significant disruptions in the Dungeness crab fisheries, a vital economic resource for the West Coast, as evidence of the damages incurred.
Chevron, one of the oil giants implicated, welcomed the lawsuit’s dismissal. Company spokesperson Bill Turenne emphasized that climate change necessitates a unified policy approach rather than a series of unfounded lawsuits. This sentiment echoed the Second Circuit Court of Appeals’ reasoning for dismissing a similar lawsuit, highlighting the inappropriateness of addressing such extensive issues through state law.
The PCFFA’s claim was legally supported by Sher Edling LLP, a firm established with the specific intent of pursuing groundbreaking environmental cases. Since its founding, Sher Edling has represented numerous entities, including states, cities, and municipalities, in analogous lawsuits against the fossil fuel industry.
While the PCFFA’s case has concluded, the outcome potentially sets a precedent for other similar lawsuits currently navigating the legal system, such as the recent climate deception lawsuit launched by the state of California. The fate of these cases remains to be seen, but the dismissal of the PCFFA lawsuit may signal a challenging road ahead for similar legal actions against the energy industry.