Climate Accountability
Social Justice, Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Taxpayer Justice
Big Oil Lied.
People Died.
On June 22, Multomah County, Oregon filed a lawsuit seeking billions in damages from 17 of the largest fossil fuel companies over the 2021 heat dome. The county retained our office along with the law firm Simon, Greenstone, Panatier and Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost to hold these fossil fuel companies accountable for the damages inflicted from one of the most deadly and destructive human-made weather disasters.
L to R. Shree Patel, James Coon, John Caron, Roger Worthington, Ray Thomas and Chris Thomas
County of Multnomah, Case No. 23CV25264 Plaintiff v. EXXON MOBIL CORP., SHELL PLC, et al
Press Release - October 7, 2024 Second Amended Complaint - October 7, 2024 Multnomah County - June 11, 2024 Opinion and Order - June 10, 2024 Findings and Recommendations - April 10, 2024 Plaintiff's Reply to Defendant Response in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion to Remand - December 12, 2023 Plaintiff's Motions to Remand, Expedited Hearing Requested- October 2, 2023 First Amended Complaint - August 8, 2023 Press Release - June 23, 2023 Public Nuisance - June, 2023 |
Metro Reply to Response to ORCP 37 Petition - August 21, 2024 Opinion and Order- June 25, 2024 Metro’s Reply to Defendant’s Response - May 3, 2024 Findings and Recommendations - April 10, 2024 Plaintiff Metro’s Reply - February 16, 2024 Plaintiff's Motion to Remand, Expedited Hearing Requested - January 26, 2024 Letter to Hon. Adrienne Nelson - January 8, 2024 Petition to Perpetuate Testimony under ORCP 37 - December 18, 2023 |
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The Economic Costs of Climate Change for Oregonians: A First Look October 2024 CSE researchers John Talberth and Richard Mietz are part of a collaboration that has come together to begin putting a price tag on the climate crisis as it unfolds in the state of Oregon. The collaboration – Forum on Oregon Climate Economics, or FORCE – includes researchers at the University of Oregon, Reed College, Natural Resource Economics and CSE. The FORCE team released a report taking a ‘first look’ at climate damages already incurred or expected over the next fifty years. Subsequent reports will quantify these climate change costs more thoroughly and also help public agencies in the state identify cost-effective climate adaptation measures that could be put in place to help Oregonians be more resilient to heat waves, droughts, wildfires, sea level rise and other climate disasters in the decades ahead. Click here to view the report’s Executive Summary. Climate Change Costs in Oregon are Focus of New Economics Forum University of Oregon * Reed College * Center for Sustainable Economy * Natural Resource Economics Wildfire smoke costs Oregon households $450 per day as they try to adapt by purchasing air purifiers, canceling trips and keeping children at home to minimize their exposure. That’s just one of many economic impacts of climate change tallied up in a new report put out by a nonpartisan group of economists and policy experts. THE METER HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR YEARS Potential Climate-Related Economic Costs to Oregonians Paying for Oregon’s Future: Costs Climate Change Will Impose on Oregon’s Household |
Roger W. “Yes, the scientists tell us we are at or near the Tipping Point. To prepare for, and mitigate, and acclimate to a hotter world, with more frequent and intense Heat Domes, wildfires and droughts. We are going to need to weatherize, weatherproof, install Air Conditioners, and air filters, and retrofit the way we live, work and play to survive a hotter climate.”
"We are confident that once we show what the fossil fuel companies knew about global warming and when and what they did to deny, delay and deceive the public, the jury will not let the fossil fuel companies get away with their reckless misconduct."
"The heat dome that cost so much life and loss was not a natural weather event. It did not just happen because life can be cruel, nor can it be rationalized as simply a mystery of God's will." J. Simon
Multnomah County sues oil companies over 2021 Heat Dome disaster press conference
"This lawsuit is about accountability and fairness, and I believe the people of Multnomah County deserve both. These businesses knew their products were unsafe and harmful, and they lied about it,"
V. Pederson
Chair of the Board of Commissioners Jessica Vega Pederson leads the bridge walk.
"We will show that fossil fuel-induced global warming is already costing Oregonians lives and treasure. We will show that the normal use of fossil fuel products over time has imposed massive external, unpriced and untraded social, economic and environmental costs on the County."
R. Worthington
Vega Pederson and Roger Worthington
We don't want a payoff. We want to get paid back.
E&E NEWS BY POLITICO
GOP-linked firm gathers info on people suing the oil industry. It won’t say why.
A conservative research firm is collecting information that could be used to discredit officials involved in a multibillion-dollar climate lawsuit against fossil fuel companies.
By Corbin Hiar
October 23, 2024
ENVIROMENTAL RESEARCH HEALTH
Human-induced climate change is leading to increased extreme weather events, such as the heat dome that occurred in Multnomah County, OR, in June 2021. Certain groups are at increased risk from excessive heat events, such as the very young and very old, persons without stable ho using, and persons with certain health comorbidities.
Brendon Haggerty et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Health 2 045005
September 30, 2024
INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS
'Not Caused by an Act of God': In a Rare Court Action, an Oregon County
Seeks to Hold Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable for Extreme Temperatures
July 8, 2024
BBC
COP28: Five reasons for optimism on climate
December 7, 2023
One of the biggest climate suits in history is taking place in the US, where Oregon's Multnomah County is making a $52bn damages claim against a range of oil and gas producers for causing a massive heatwave back in 2021.
If they win this case, it will have huge legal and financial implications, potentially leading to dozens more lawsuits against fossil fuel producers, similar to the court struggles that big tobacco endured in the past.
NEW YORK TIMES
Judge Rules in Favor of Montana Youths in Landmark Climate Case. The court found that young people have a constitutional right to a healthful environment and that regulators must be allowed to consider climate impact.
August 14, 2023
CNN
Montana judge hands young plaintiffs significant victory in landmark climate trial
August 14, 2023
PEOPLES WORLD
Senators demand Justice Dept. probe oil giants for global warming cover-up
August 1, 2023
KGW8
Multnomah County is suing fossil fuel companies for $50B. Here's the county's argument
July 19, 2023
MOTHER JONES
Oregon's Multnomah County Sues Big Oil for a Devastating 2021 Heat Wave
June 25, 2023
THE GUARDIAN
Oregon county sues big oil over 2021 heatwave that killed dozens of people
June 22, 2023
NBC NEWS
Oregon county sues fossil fuel companies, alleging they caused deadly 2021 heat wave in Northwest
June 22, 2023
CNBC NEWS
Oregon county sues oil, gas companies including Exxon, Shell, Chevron for deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome
June 22, 2023
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
Science Group Applauds New Climate Accountability Lawsuit by Oregon's Most Populous County
June 22, 2023
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL (UPI)
Oregon county sues fossil fuel companies over 2021 heat wave
June 22, 2023
DESMOG
Oregon County Sues Fossil Fuel Entities and Enablers for Contributing to Deadly 2021 Heatwave
June 22, 2023
OREGONIAN
Multnomah County sues big oil, coal companies for $51 billion over deadly heat dome
June 22, 2023
KOIN NEWS
Multnomah County goes after big oil for heat dome deaths, files lawsuit
June 22, 2023
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
2021 heat dome prompts $50B lawsuit against fossil fuel companies
June 22, 2023
KPTV NEWS
Multnomah County sues oil companies for billions over deadly 2021 heat dome
June 22, 2023
OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Multnomah County sues fossil fuel companies for nearly $52 billion over heat dome
June 22, 2023
KGW8 NEWS
Multnomah County sues fossil fuel companies, citing deadly 2021 heat dome
June 22, 2023
KATU2 NEWS
Multnomah County sues fossil fuel companies for 2021 heat dome deaths, damages
June 22, 2023
THE GRIST
The Pacific Northwest’s deadly 2021 heat wave fuels a new lawsuit against Big Oil
June 22, 2023
PORTLAND MERCURY
Multnomah County to Sue Big Oil for Billions for Their Role In Deadly Heat Dome Event
June 22, 2023
KWCH NEWS
Multnomah County sues oil companies for billions over deadly 2021 heat dome
June 22, 2023
THE ENERGY MIX
BREAKING: Fossil Companies Face $50B Lawsuit Over 2021 Heat Dome Deaths
June 22, 2023
COMMON DREAMS
Oregon County Sues Big Oil and 'Misinformation Agents' Over Deadly 2021 Heatwave
June 22, 2023
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