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Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
Aug 11, 2025
Contributors
Michael Toth

Climate Lawyers Try a New Approach

Contributors
Michael Toth
Michael Toth
Senior Research Fellow
Michael Toth
Summary
Heatstroke killed Julie Leon on a 108-degree day. A lawsuit blames oil companies.
Summary
Heatstroke killed Julie Leon on a 108-degree day. A lawsuit blames oil companies.
Listen to this article

Stung by a recent losing streak in state courts, the foundations, academics and trial lawyers behind the climate lawfare movement are now trying a new tactic: wrongful-death lawsuits against oil and gas companies based on the alleged connection between carbon emissions and weather-related deaths. Such efforts won’t stop until the Supreme Court affirms the federal government’s exclusive regulatory authority over interstate emissions.

The leading such case, Leon v. Exxon Mobil, seeks to hold energy companies liable for the death of Julie Leon, who suffered heatstroke in her car in June 2021 after driving almost 100 miles without air conditioning on a day when temperatures hit a record-breaking 108 degrees in western Washington state. The complaint was filed in state court in May on behalf of Leon’s estate.

Continue reading at the Wall Street Journal.

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