• Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About
  • Search
    • Search US
    • Search Non-US
  • Non-U.S. Litigation
  • U.S. Litigation
  • Home
  • U.S. Litigation
  • Non-U.S. Litigation
  • Search
    • Search US
    • Search Non-US
  • About
  • Contact

Delaware v. BP America Inc.

Filing Date: 2020
Case Categories:
  • Adaptation
    • Actions seeking money damages for losses
  • Common Law Claims
Principal Laws:
State Law—Nuisance, State Law—Negligence, State Law—Trespass, Delaware Consumer Fraud Act
Description: Lawsuit seeking to hold the fossil fuel industry liable for the physical, environmental, social, and economic consequences of climate change in Delaware.
  • Delaware v. BP America Inc.
    Docket number(s): 1:20-cv-01429
    Court/Admin Entity: D. Del.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    01/05/2021 Brief Download Opening brief filed in support of motion to remand to state court.
    12/18/2020 Reply Download Reply filed by Minnesota in support of motion to remand to state court.
    12/09/2020 Letter Download Letter filed by American Petroleum Institute regarding Acting Solicitor General's amicus brief in the Supreme Court in BP p.l.c. v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore.
    11/20/2020 Motion Download Motion to remand to state court filed by Delaware.
    10/23/2020 Notice of Removal Download Notice of removal filed.
  • State v. BP America Inc.
    Docket number(s): N20C-09-097
    Court/Admin Entity: Del. Super. Ct.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    09/10/2020 Complaint Download Complaint filed. Delaware Lawsuit Sought Damages from Fossil Fuel Companies for Climate Change Injuries. Delaware filed a lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court asserting common law claims and a claim under its Consumer Fraud Act against fossil fuel companies for allegedly causing “the climate crisis” through “concealment and misrepresentation of their products’ known dangers—and simultaneous promotion of their unrestrained use.” Delaware alleged “severe injuries,” including inundation and loss of State property, loss of tax revenue due to inundation of private property and businesses and other impacts to Delaware’s economy, injury to or destruction of critical State facilities, increased costs of providing government services, increased health care and public health costs, increased planning and preparation costs, and disruption and loss of coastal communities. The common law claims asserted by Delaware are negligent failure to warn, trespass, and nuisance. The State seeks compensatory damages, penalties for violation of the Consumer Fraud Act, attorneys’ fees, punitive damages, and costs of suit.

© 2021 · Sabin Center for Climate Change Law · U.S. Litigation Chart made in collaboration with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

These materials are intended to be a useful resource and may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions. They are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. You should consult with counsel to determine applicable legal requirements in a specific fact situation.

This website uses cookies as well as similar tools and technologies to understand visitors' experiences. By continuing to use this website, you consent to Columbia University's usage of cookies and similar technologies, in accordance with the Columbia University Website Cookie Notice.OkColumbia University Website Cookie Notice