Minnesota’s lawsuit against three major petroleum organizations will proceed, a Ramsey County court decided Friday, Feb. 14.
Attorney General Keith Ellison sued ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institution in state court in 2020 for "systematically ... deceiving Minnesotans about the true causes and costs of climate change.”
ExxonMobil and API tried to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing a lack of jurisdiction and that the state’s claims are time-barred. The court ruled the state had sufficiently pled causation and its claims regarding failure to warn, fraud, misrepresentation, conspiracy and deceptive trade and advertising.
One of the five counts, relating to the Minnesota Consumer Fraud Act, was dismissed.
Previously, the defendants tried to move the lawsuit to federal court. An Appeals court denied the move in March 2023.
A news release from the Attorney General’s Office says courts have repeatedly ruled the lawsuit was properly filed and pleaded.
"These defendants prioritized their profits over the people of Minnesota, and deception was their business model," Ellison stated in the release. "The court's thorough analysis and well-reasoned order puts us one step closer to proving that in court."
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Contributed/briandjan607 via FlickrWalz is instructing the DNR not to grant permits. This move bears a strong risk of litigation over Twin Metals, which wants to extract copper, nickel, cobalt and other valuable metals from underground veins. -
And: Glen's Army Navy in Grand Rapids to close after 80 years. -
Emma Krab/KAXEGlen’s Army Navy Store in Grand Rapids, founded in 1946, began liquidating its inventory Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, after 80 years in business. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEThe KAXE Music Team on new music from Megasound, Womack Sisters, Margaret Glaspy, The Mary Wallopers, Ibibio Sound Machine, Angela Autumn, and Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs. Plus T. Rex in '76. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerThe U.S. Department of Justice sued Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon over his refusal to hand over the voter registration list, which includes voters’ names, birthdates, addresses and partial Social Security numbers. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEIn an email to KAXE, the FBI provided statements on the active investigations into recent incidents on the Red Lake Nation. -
Contributed/Authors' websitesMinnesota authors Laura Hern, Candace Simar, David Bruns, Bruce Carlson, Julie Jo Larson and William Burleson talk about their books and writing. -
Red Lake and four other Northern Minnesota counties are classified as legal deserts, with fewer than one practicing attorney per 1,000 residents. -
Red Lake and four other Northern Minnesota counties are classified as legal deserts, with fewer than one practicing attorney per 1,000 residents.
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And: The DNR confirmed zebra mussels in LaRue Mine Pit and Kabekona Lake; and Fulton Brewing will acquire Bemidji Brewing.
