By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - The Source
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 7 – The state or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is suing Exxon, BP, Chevron, Citgo (Venezuela), Conoco, Duke, Getty, Gulf, Lukoil, Phillips 66, Shell, Texaco, and Cumberland Farms.
On May 28, 2020 Inner City Press covered a conference before U.S. District Court for the Southern District Of York Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman.
Judge Freeman said, It's a long docket. (She starts reading from 2016 motions.
White shoe law firms representing the oil companies in the case include King & Spalding, which in full disclosure Inner City Press has covered in connection with Turkey's Halkbank, Stroock, and Ballard Spahr, along others.
The companies' lawyers soon were mocking the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for wanting to test all water wells for MTBE, saying Pennsylvania doesn't point to anyone actually injured.
Judge Freeman said she will not agree to strike any pleadings - that would be up to District Judge Broderick - and that while she could impose discovery sanctions, she won't, this should be addressed on the merits. She notes discovery is delayed by Covid-19 in many cases.
Jump cut to October 7, 2021, when Judge Freeman held another discovery conference in the case, which Inner City Press again covered. This time, American Refining Group's lawyer explained delay by reference to vertigo and falling over. Judge Freeman said she is sympathetic and extended his time to October 21. She added, however, that "ARG is cautioned that its failure to meet this modified deadline may result in sanctions."
The case is Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, et al., 14-cv-6228 (Broderick / Freeman).
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
