San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Oakland City Attorney Barbara J. Parker’s statement on climate damages lawsuit hearing
SAN FRANCISCO (Feb. 5, 2020) — San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Oakland City Attorney Barbara J. Parker issued the following statement today after a hearing before a federal appeals court to move their lawsuits to state court:
We appreciate the opportunity to appeal Judge Alsup’s decisions before the 9th Circuit today. As we told the panel, we believe these cases should have been remanded to state court where they were originally filed. The law and precedent supporting our position is strong, and such a ruling would be consistent with orders issued by four other federal judges, including Judge Chhabria in northern California. If the panel agrees that the cases belong in state court, it would be the state judge, applying state laws, who decides whether we can proceed with this case to protect our residents, workers, and businesses from the costs and damage these fossil fuel companies knowingly imposed on our communities.
The cases are: People of the State of California v. BP P.L.C. et al., San Francisco Superior Court Case No. CGC 17-561370, filed Sept. 19, 2017. People of the State of California v. BP P.L.C. et al., Alameda County Superior Court Case No. RG17875889, filed Sept. 19, 2017.
More information on the case can be found on the City Attorney’s website at httpss://www.sfcityattorney.org/category/news/climate-change/
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