In light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring appellate panels to examine all grounds for the removal of cases to federal court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ruled that a climate-change case brought by the state of Rhode Island against Shell Oil must be sent back to state court.
According to the appeals court’s May 23 opinion, Rhode Island brought a claim in state court which alleged a group of energy companies, including Shell Oil and Chevron, understood the long-term implications of burning fossil fuels and, despite the damage to the environment, continued to sell these products to the public for profit.
