Supreme Court grapples with case on holding Big Oil liable for climate change

The Washington Post ^ | October 5, 2026 3:30 PM EDT | Justin Jouvenal

[E. Pluribus Unum]

After more than two hours of argument, it was unclear whether the justices would green-light Boulder, Colorado’s novel lawsuit against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy.

The Supreme Court on Monday grappled with whether to let a novel lawsuit go forward that is seeking to hold two large oil companies liable for the effects of climate change, a decision that will be critical to similar litigation that dozens of states, counties and cities have brought in recent years.

After nearly two hours of argument, it remained unclear how the justices might rule in the first case of the new term and one of the most significant dealing with global warming that the court has handled to date. The justices asked sharp questions of both sides.

The stakes are immense.

The city and county of Boulder, Colorado, are seeking what could amount to billions of dollars from ExxonMobil and Canada’s Suncor Energy, alleging the companies misled the public over the role of fossil fuels in global warming and downplayed the effects of climate change. The oil companies deny wrongdoing.

The lawsuit, if allowed to continue in Colorado state court, could open the door to thousands of similar claims by municipalities nationwide over the impact of climate change on health and infrastructure. The litigation could ultimately result in astronomical settlements and damages that the oil companies warn could bankrupt the industry.

Officials in Boulder, as well as in places including San Francisco, Massachusetts and Hawaii where similar lawsuits have been filed, hope the cases will be the environmental equivalent of landmark litigation that produced major judgments against tobacco companies over cigarettes and drugmakers over opioids.

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TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS:

[PGR88]

what an utter fraud.

[Red Badger]

What caused Climate Change 20,000 years ago when the last Ice Age ended?...........

[ConservativeMind]

Next, they will sue people who fart too much.

[maddog55]

If SCOTUS holds oil companies accountable then the institution should be burned to the the ground. I can’t see how they would be that stupid except KBJ who doesn’t know if she’s a woman or not.

[CFW]

“Court sends mixed signals on whether it will allow state-tort suits seeking to hold energy companies liable for climate change to go forward”

https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/10/court-sends-mixed-signals-on-whether-it-will-allow-state-tort-suits-seeking-to-hold-energy-compa/

[Macoozie]

Oil producers didn’t do anything.

The End User burned the product.

[absalom01]

Alito has already recused himself, so this could easily go Boulder’s way.

Would lead to significantly higher energy costs, consequently reduced economic activity, and generally terrible outcomes.

[catnipman]

“KBJ who doesn’t know if she’s a woman or not.”

and stated in a recent minority opinion that “human rights supersede the US Constitution” when deciding the Constitutionality of a law ...

[Dilbert San Diego]

I heard Neanderthals had coal fired power plants.

Sarcasm......

[Jim W N]

What did the US Constitution give the Superme Court power to be divinators, climatologists, and astrologoists? What is this?

The Supreme Court should rule that federal courts are not subject to the divination for some kind of Leftist theory or hoax about climate change.

[jobim]

As Rush would have said: Phony baloney plastic banana good time rock n roll charlie.

But seriously: What about the Globalist Warmers?
Those Geoengineering weather changers and population poisoners?

[Libloather]

Thumbs up/thumbs down in 4.31 years. They can wait.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Next, they will sue people who fart too much.

Bankruptcy is in my future then! Mine don’t stink, though.

[Flaming Conservative]

Oh, good grief! It’s been proven that climate change/global warming is a fraud. It’s called WEATHER, and it was created by God so we and our planet could exist. Pollution is something altogether different, and everything possible should be done to limit it, but a certain amount is unavoidable. Of course, we COULD go back to the stone age, but I’m guessing not many people would agree to that.

[Nervous Tick]

>> what an utter fraud.

In this case, I think Roberts’ tendency to triangulate public opinion (rather than rule on the Constitution and law) will actually work in our favor. The feckless little bitch won’t want to be publicly drawn and quartered.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Oh, good grief! It’s been proven that climate change/global warming is a fraud. It’s called WEATHER, and it was created by God so we and our planet could exist. Pollution is something altogether different, and everything possible should be done to limit it, but a certain amount is unavoidable. Of course, we COULD go back to the stone age, but I’m guessing not many people would agree to that.

WELL SAID and bears repeating!

[Labyrinthos]

From the SCOTUSBLOG link: “Chief Justice John Roberts appeared skeptical, however. He suggested to both Shanmugam and Sarah Harris, the principal deputy U.S. solicitor general who argued on behalf of the Trump administration in support of the energy companies...”

The solicitor general represents the federal government, not the Trump administration.

[lastchance]

Woolly Mammoth poop.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

I'm pretty sure this will be 5-3 to shoot down these state lawsuits. No Alito but the rest of the GOP appointees will be united on this one. It amounts to letting individual state AG's set national on the environment. Whichever state wants the strictest standards essentially can bludgeon the rest into compliance.