ExxonMobil has sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta and several environmental groups for an alleged "smear campaign" against its advanced recycling program to falsely claim that the oil company contributes to climate change in order to benefit competing foreign interests.

Takeaway: This case asserts defamation on the part of a government official, allegedly caused by ties to campaign financing from foreign competitors. It also involves an alleged civil conspiracy with a law firm, which ExxonMobil claimed was also a donor to the attorney general's campaigns and required to register as a foreign agent by the U.S. Department of Justice.