City of Chicago Sues Oil and Gas Corporations for Climate Change Deception *Centurion Insurance AFS*

The City of Chicago is suing six oil and gas corporations and their largest trade association for deceiving Chicago consumers about the climate change dangers associated with their products, mayor Brandon Johnson announced this week.

The city filed a nearly 200 page complaint alleging the fossil fuel industry misled consumers and the public about climate change. The complaint alleges that the industry’s own scientists have consistently concluded that fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas pollution. Rather than act on the scientists’ findings, the fossil fuel companies mounted a disinformation campaign to discredit the scientific consensus on climate change, the complaint says.

The complaint seeks relief in the form of compensatory and loss-of-use damages, penalties and fines for statutory violations, disgorgement of profits, and enjoining the defendants from engaging in the deceptive and unfair acts and practices alleged in the lawsuit, as well as associated fees, interest, and other relief as deemed appropriate by the jury at trial.

“There is no justice without accountability,” said Johnson in a statement. “From the unprecedented poor air quality that we experienced last summer to the basement floodings that our residents on the West Side experienced, the consequences of this crisis are severe, as are the costs of surviving them. That is why we are seeking to hold these Defendants accountable.”

Chicago was one of 96 cities around the world to adopt a climate action plan in 2022, which will be designed to reduce carbon emissions, advance environmental justice, and improve community health.

Topics
Lawsuits
Energy
Oil Gas
Climate Change