Unlike the bulk of current climate change cases, which raise public nuisance or constitutional law claims, New York Attorney General Letitia James and her office filed a fraud action against Exxon Mobil. The state alleged securities fraud in the company’s statements about the use of a proxy cost of carbon in corporate decision-making. The trial began in October in the New York State Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled for Exxon in December 2019.

Read our related cover story: “Lawyers are unleashing a flurry of lawsuits to step up the fight against climate change”