Press Statement  Statement From AG Healey on Victory Over Exxon in Massachusetts Supreme Court

Boston — Following today’s ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirming her office’s authority to investigate Exxon Mobil and ordering the company to turn over documents to the AG’s Office, Attorney General Maura Healey issued the following statement:

“For the second time this month, Exxon’s scorched earth campaign to block our investigation has been entirely rejected by the courts. In its decision today, our state’s highest court affirmed that Exxon is subject to our laws, and that our office has the authority to investigate. Now Exxon must come forward with the truth, what it knew about climate change, when, and what it told the world. The people of Massachusetts – and people everywhere – deserve answers.”

BACKGROUND:

Following detailed stories in several news outlets that revealed  Exxon’s own scientists had knowledge about climate change four decades ago, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey launched an investigation in March 2016 into whether the company deceived Massachusetts consumers and investors about the impacts of burning fossil fuels on the planet and its business.

Instead of complying with AG Healey’s civil investigative demand, the company sued the AG’s Office in federal district court and Massachusetts state court. In January 2017, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Heidi Brieger dismissed Exxon’s lawsuit and ruled the company must comply with AG Healey’s investigation. Earlier this month, Judge Valerie Caproni dismissed the company’s federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against AG Healey’s Office. Today’s ruling reaffirms Judge Brieger’s decision that the company must comply with AG Healey’s investigation.