Sierra Club, Texas Environmental Groups Hit Back at ExxonMobil Over $14M Order

ExxonMobil Pollution Lawsuit Overview:

• Why: The groups argue with Exxon’s claim that they do not have the standing to sue Exxon or receive rewards.
• Who: The Sierra Club and Environment Texas Citizen Lobby respond to ExxonMobil’s latest appeal.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

In their ongoing legal battle over Exxon’s alleged pollution, environmental groups Sierra Club and Environment Texas Citizen Lobby responded to ExxonMobil’s latest attempt to skirt a $14 million court-ordered reward, calling it “tortured and unsuccessful.” 

Exxon’s latest appeal argued that, in keeping with a Supreme Court ruling made in June, the environmental groups don’t have the standing to sue Exxon and be compensated for damages under the Clean Air Act. 

The Sierra Club and Environment Texas Citizen Lobby disagreed in their response to the Fifth Circuit, noting that Exxon had misinterpreted the Supreme Court case and failed to make relevant arguments. 

ExxonMobil Ordered to Pay $14M Over Air Pollution

The lawsuit between Exxon and their environmentally friendly foes stems from millions of pounds of air pollution that Exxon allegedly released from its refining and chemical complex in Baytown, Texas. 

The suit has bounced between district court and appeals court several times. The $14 million reward, ordered by US District Judge David Hittner, is a far cry from the groups’ original ask of $642 million. 

ExxonMobile, along with Esso, paid Puerto Rico $25 million to settle claims the companies polluted the island’s water with a chemical compound added to gasoline. 

What do you think of Exxon’s attempts to avoid paying for their part in air pollution? Sound off in the comments below!

The Sierra Club is represented by Philip H. Hilder of Hilder & Associates PC and Joshua R. Kratka of the National Environmental Law Center.

The ExxonMobil Pollution Lawsuit is Environment Texas Citizen Lobby, et al. v. ExxonMobil Corp., et al., Case No. 17-20545, in the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 

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