Portland, Oregon – Multnomah County recently filed a lawsuit against major fossil fuel producers, seeking to pin responsibility for the extreme heat wave of 2021, infamously known as the Pacific Northwest Heat Dome, that devastated the region. The legal action, instituted on June 22, 2023, in an Oregon state court, targets industry giants including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, and BP, among others.
The lawsuit accuses these corporations of significantly contributing to climate change through their historic greenhouse gas emissions. This, the county posits, played a critical role in exacerbating the heat dome event that clamped down on Portland, bringing unprecedented high temperatures and loss of lives. Multnomah County is demanding $50 million in compensatory damages and a striking $1.5 billion for future protective measures against similar disasters.
Adding further pressure on these corporations, the county is also seeking the creation of a $50 billion fund aimed at enhancing public health infrastructure to better manage or prevent future extreme climate events. The initiative underscores a proactive approach to shield the community from foreseeable environmental crises.
The county’s representation in this formidable legal challenge includes three law firms renowned for handling large-scale disaster litigations: Worthington & Caron, PC, Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC, and Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost.
Jessica Vega Pederson, Chair of Multnomah County, emphasized the lawsuit’s basis on accountability and fairness. She accused the defendants of knowing the risks associated with their products and misleading the public, consequences of which have now fallen heavily on the shoulders of taxpayers.
The backdrop of this litigation is stark. Between June 25 and 27, 2021, Multnomah County recorded its highest temperatures—reaching 116 degrees Fahrenheit, profoundly above the seasonal averages. This extreme weather event resulted in the deaths of 69 residents, extensive property damage, and significant financial strains on county resources.
Scientific findings post-event corroborated the role of fossil fuel emissions in fueling such extreme weather patterns. Research led by globally respected climate scientists established a direct link between the emissions and the increased heat intensity, which was further compounded by a dense high-pressure system stationary over the region.
In their legal arguments, the county claims that the actions of the fossil fuel companies amount to negligence, fraud, and creation of a public nuisance, all recognized under Oregon’s state laws. Attorney Jeffrey Simon noted that the litigation does not introduce new legal theories but asserts violations of long-established laws.
Roger Worthington added a note of confidence in the judicial process, suggesting that revealing the extent of the fossil fuel industry’s prior knowledge and misinformation about climate change will likely influence jury sentiment against the errant behavior of these corporations.
This legal battle in Multnomah County reflects a growing trend where local governments are holding corporations accountable for environmental damages linked to climate change. It sets a significant precedent for how similar future cases might be argued and potentially resolved.
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