Federal Common Law Controls California Climate Actions: Never A Dull Moment

Earlier this week, Judge William Alsup denied a motion by Oakland and San Francisco to remand their public nuisance claims against some of the world's largest fossil fuel producers to state court.  However, I'm not sure that this is a victory for the oil companies.  This might be more of a "be careful what you wish for" scenario.

After the Supreme Court decision in AEP v. Connecticut and subsequent decisions, such as Native Village of Kivalina, it seemed pretty clear that the federal Clean Air Act had displaced federal common law, leaving only potential state law claims in its place.

Judge Alsup had a different idea.  The cities' claims were only brought against fossil fuel producers, not electric generators.  The claims were based on the allegations concerning the companies' conduct in selling fossil fuels into the stream of commerce, while at the same time allegedly making misrepresentations concerning the risks of climate change.