CITY OF HOBOKEN v. CHEVRON CORP.

No. 21-2728, No. 22-1096.

45 F.4th 699 (2022)

CITY OF HOBOKEN v. CHEVRON CORPORATION; Chevron U.S.A. Inc.; Exxon Mobil Corporation; ExxonMobil Oil Corporation; Shell PLC; BP P.L.C.; BP America, Inc.; ConocoPhillips; ConocoPhillips Co.; Phillips 66; Phillips 66 Company; American Petroleum Institute; Shell USA, Appellants. State of Delaware, ex rel. Kathleen Jennings, Attorney General of the State of Delaware v. BP America Inc.; BP P.L.C.; Chevron Corporation; Chevron U.S.A. Inc.; ConocoPhillips; ConocoPhillips Company; Phillips 66; Phillips 66 Company; Exxon MoBil Corporation; ExxonMobil Oil Corporation; XTO Energy Inc.; Hess Corporation; Marathon Oil Corporation; Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Marathon Petroleum Company LP; Speedway LLC; Murphy Oil Corporation; Murphy USA Inc.; Shell PLC; Shell USA; Citgo Petroleum Corporation; TotalEnergies SE.; Occidental Petroleum Corporation; Devon Energy Corporation; Apache Corporation; CNX Resources Corporation; Consol Energy Inc.; Ovintiv, Inc.; American Petroleum Institute; TotalEnergies Marketing USA, Inc., Appellants.

United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.

Filed: August 17, 2022.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. , Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, 333 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, Thomas G. Hungar , Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, 1050 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036, Counsel for Appellants Chevron Corp. & Chevron USA Inc. (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096).

Joel M. Silverstein , Herbert J. Stern , Stern Kilcullen & Rufolo, 325 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 110, Florham Park, NJ 07932, Counsel for Appellants Chevron Corp. & Chevron USA Inc. (No. 21-2728).

Joshua D. Dick , Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, 555 Mission St., Suite 3000, San Francisco, CA 94105, Andrea E. Neuman , Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, 200 Park Ave., 47th Floor, New York, NY 10166, William E. Thomson, III , Ibson Dunn & Crutcher, 333 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071, Counsel for Appellants Chevron Corp. & Chevron USA Inc. (No. 22-1096).

William T. Marks , Kannon K. Shanmugam , Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, 2001 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20006, Daniel J. Toal , Theodore V. Wells, Jr. , Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, 1285 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, Counsel for Appellants Exxon Mobil Corp. & ExxonMobil Oil Corp. (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096) & XTO Energy (No. 22-1096).

Kevin H. Marino , John D. Tortorella , Marino Tortorella & Boyle, 437 S. Blvd., Chatham, NJ 07928, Counsel for Appellants Exxon Mobil Corp. & ExxonMobil Oil Corp. (No. 21-2728).

Paul J. Fishman , Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, One Gateway Ctr., Suite 1025, Newark, NJ 07102, Matthew T. Heartney , John D. Lombardo , Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, 777 S. Figueroa St., 44th Floor. Los Angeles, CA 90017, Jonathan W. Hughes , Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, 3 Embarcadero Ctr., 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111, Nancy G. Milburn , Diana E. Reiter , Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, 250 W. 55th St., New York, NY 10019, Counsel for Appellants BP PLC & BP America Inc. (Nos.21-2728 & 22-1096).

Steven M. Bauer , Margaret Tough , Latham & Watkins, 505 Montgomery St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94111, Daniel R. Brody , Jameson R. Jones , Bartlit Beck, 1801 Wewatta St., Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202, Counsel for Appellants ConocoPhillips & ConocoPhillips Co. (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096).

Jeffrey S. Chiesa , Michael K. Plumb , Dennis M. Toft , Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, One Boland Dr., West Orange, NJ 07024, Counsel for Appellants ConocoPhillips & ConocoPhillips Co. (No. 21-2728).

Daniel J. Brown , Alexandra M. Joyce , McCarter & English, 405 N. King St., Renaissance Ctr., 8th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801, Counsel for Appellants ConocoPhillips & ConocoPhillips Co. (No. 22-1096).

Steven M. Bauer , Latham & Watkins, 505 Montgomery St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94111, Counsel for Appellants Phillips 66 & Phillips 66 Co. (Nos.21-2728 & 22-1096).

Anthony P. Callaghan , Gibbons, One Pennsylvania Plaza, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10119, Sylvia-Rebecca Gutierrez , Thomas R. Valen , Gibbons, One Gateway Ctr., Newark, NJ 07102, Counsel for Appellants Phillips 66 & Phillips 66 Co. (No. 21-2728).

Daniel J. Brown , Alexandra M. Joyce , McCarter & English, 405 N. King St., Renaissance Ctr., 8th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801, Margaret Tough , Latham & Watkins, 505 Montgomery St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94111, Robert W. Whetzel , Richards Layton & Finger, 920 N. King St., One Rodney Square, Wilmington, DE 19801, Counsel for Appellants Phillips 66 & Phillips 66 Co. (No. 22-1096).

Kathryn M. Barber , Brian D. Schmalzbach , McGuireWoods, 800 E. Canal St., Gateway Plaza, Richmond, VA 23219, Jeffrey M. Beyer , Anthony J. Zarillo, Jr. , Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti, One Speedwell Ave., Headquarters Plaza, Morristown, NJ 07962, Counsel for Appellant American Petroleum Institute (No. 21-2728).

Kevin J. Mangan , Womble Bond Dickinson, 1313 N. Market St., Suite 1200, Wilmington, DE 19801, Andrew G. McBride , McGuireWoods, 888 16th St. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006, Counsel for Appellant American Petroleum Institute (No. 22-1096).

David C. Frederick [Argued], Grace W. Knofczynski , Daniel Severson , Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick, 1615 M St. NW, Sumner Square, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036, Counsel for Appellants Shell PLC & Shell USA Inc. (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096).

Steven L. Caponi , K&L Gates, 600 N. King St., Suite 901, Wilmington, DE 19801, Counsel for Appellants Shell PLC & Shell USA Inc. (No. 22-1096).

Joseph J. Bellew , White & Williams, 600 N. King St., Suite 800, Wilmington, DE 19801, Megan H. Berge , Baker Botts, 101 California St., Suite 3200, San Francisco, CA 94111, J. Scott Janoe , Baker Botts, 910 Louisiana St., One Shell Plaza, 37th Floor, Houston, TX 77002, Counsel for Appellants Hess Corp. & Murphy Oil Corp. (No. 22-1096).

Tristan L. Duncan , Shook Hardy & Bacon, 2555 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108, Daniel B. Rogers , Shook Hardy & Bacon, 201 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 3200, Miami, FL 33131, Counsel for Appellant Murphy USA (No. 22-1096).

Michael A. Barlow , Abrams & Bayliss, 20 Montchanin Rd., Suite 200, Wilmington, DE 19807, Robert P. Reznick , Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, 1152 15th St. NW, Columbia Ctr., Washington, DC 20005, Counsel for Appellant Marathon Oil Corp. (No. 22-1096).

Shannon S. Broome , Ann M. Mortimore , Hunton Andrews Kurth, 50 California St., Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94111, Shawn P. Regan , Hunton Andrews Kurth, 200 Park Ave., 52nd Floor, New York, NY 10166, Antionette D. Hubbard , Maron Marvel Bradley & Anderson, 1201 N. Market St., Suite 900, Wilmington, DE 19801, Counsel for Appellants Marathon Petroleum Corp., Marathon Petroleum Co. LP, & Speedway LLC (No. 22-1096).

Robert E. Dunn , Eimer Stahl, 99 S. Almaden Blvd., Suite 642, San Jose, CA 95113, Nathan P. Eimer , Pamela R. Hanebutt , Lisa S. Meyer , Eimer Stahl, 224 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60604, Counsel for Appellant Citgo Petroleum Corp. (No. 22-1096).

Jeffrey L. Moyer , Richards Layton & Finger, 920 N. King St., One Rodney Square, Wilmington, DE 19801, Vanessa Lavely, Kevin J. Orsini , Cravath Swaine & Moore, 825 Eighth Ave., Worldwide Plaza, New York, NY 10019, Counsel for Appellant Occidental Petroleum Corp. (No. 22-1096).

Joy C. Fuhr , Brian D. Schmalzbach , McGuireWoods, 800 E. Canal St., Gateway Plaza, Richmond, VA 23219, Christian J. Singewald , White & Williams, 600 N. King St., Suite 800, Wilmington, DE 19801, Counsel for Appellant Devon Energy Corp. (No. 22-1096).

Michael A. Barlow , Abrams & Bayliss, 20 Montchanin Rd., Suite 200, Wilmington, DE 19807, Alexandra Ewing , Robert W. Whetzel , Richards Layton & Finger, 920 N. King St., One Rodney Square, Wilmington, DE 19801, Robert P. Reznick , Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, 1152 15th St. NW, Columbia Ctr., Washington, DC 20005, Counsel for Appellant Apache Corp. (No. 22-1096).

J. Benjamin Aguinaga , Jones Day, 2727 N. Harwood St., Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75201, Noel J. Francisco , David M. Morrell , Jones Day, 51 Louisiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001, David C. Kiernan , Jones Day, 555 California St., 26th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, Counsel for Appellants CNX Resources Corp., Consol Energy Inc., & Ovintiv Inc. (No. 22-1096).

Tracy A. Roman , Kathleen T. Sooy , Crowell & Moring, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004, Counsel for Appellants CNX Resources Corp. & Consol Energy Inc. (No. 22-1096).

Honor R. Costello , Crowell & Moring, 590 Madison Ave., 20th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Counsel for Appellant Consol Energy Inc. (No. 22-1096).

Michael F. Healy , Shook Hardy & Bacon, 555 Mission St., Suite 2300, San Francisco, CA 94105, Mackenzie M. Wrobel , Duane Morris, 1201 N. Market St., Suite 501, Wilmington, DE 19801, Michael L. Fox , Duane Morris, 7500 B St., Suite 2900, San Diego, CA 92101, Counsel for Appellant Ovintiv Inc. (No. 22-1096).

Blake K. Rohrbacher , Alexandra Ewing , Robert W. Whetzel , Richards Layton & Finger, 920 N. King St., One Rodney Square, Wilmington, DE 19801, Counsel for Appellants TotalEnergies Marketing USA Inc. & Total Energies SE (No. 22-1096).

Jonathan S. Abady , Matthew D. Brinckerhoff [Argued], Ananda V. Burra , Max R. Selver , Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, 600 Fifth Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10020, Gerald Krovatin , Helen A. Nau , Krovatin Nau, 60 Park Place, Suite 1100, Newark, NJ 07102, Counsel for Appellee City of Hoboken (No. 21-2728).

Stephanie D. Biehl , Matthew K. Edling , Quentin C. Karpilow , Victor M. Sher [Argued], Sher Edling, 100 Montgomery St., Suite 1410, San Francisco, CA 94104, Ralph K. Durstein, III , Christian D. Wright , Office of Attorney General of Delaware, Delaware Department of Justice, 820 N. French St., Carvel Office Building, Wilmington, DE 19801, Jameson A.L. Tweedie , Delaware Department of Justice, Environmental Unit, 391 Lukens Dr., New Castle, DE 19720, Counsel for Appellee Delaware (No. 22-1096).

James P. Davy , All Rise Trial & Appellate, P.O. Box 15216, Philadelphia, PA 19125, Counsel for Amici Federal Courts & Foreign Relations Scholars (No. 22-1096).

Philip S. Goldberg , Shook Hardy & Bacon, 1800 K St. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20006, Counsel for Amici National Association of Convenience Stores, NATSO Inc, Society of Gasoline Marketers of America & National Association of Manufacturers (No. 21-2728) & National Association of Manufacturers (No. 22-1096).

Jamison Davies , New York City Law Department, 100 Church St., New York, NY 10007, Counsel for Amicus City of New York (No. 21-2728).

Peter D. Huffman , Natural Resources Defense Council, 1152 15th St. NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, Counsel for Amicus Natural Resources Defense Council (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096).

Christian D. Wright , Office of Attorney General of Delaware, Delaware Department of Justice, 820 N. French St., Carvel Office Building, Wilmington, DE 19801, Counsel for Amici Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, & District of Columbia (No. 21-2728).

Aaron Kleinbaum , Office of Attorney General of New Jersey, Division of Law, 25 Market St., Hughes Justice Complex, Trenton, NJ 08625, Counsel for Amicus New Jersey (No. 22-1096).

Thomas M. Fisher , Office of Attorney General of Indiana, 302 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, Counsel for Amici Indiana (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096) & Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, & Wyoming (No. 22-1096).

William M. Jay , Andrew Kim , Goodwin Procter, 1900 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036, Counsel for Amicus Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096).

Tristan L. Duncan , Shook Hardy & Bacon, 2555 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108, Daniel B. Rogers , Shook Hardy & Bacon, 201 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 3200, Miami, FL 33131, Counsel for Amici General Richard B. Myers & Admiral Michael G. Mullen (No. 21-2728).

Patrick A. Thronson , Janet & Suggs, 4 Reservoir Circle, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21208, Counsel for Amici National League of Cities & United States Conference of Mayors (Nos. 21-2728 & 22-1096).

Scott L. Nelson , Public Citizen Litigation Group, 1600 20th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009, Counsel for Amicus Public Citizen Inc. (No. 22-1096).

Jonathan W. Cuneo , Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, 4725 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016, Counsel for Amicus Robert S. Taylor (No. 22-1096).

William A. Rossbach , Rossbach Law, 401 N. Washington St., P.O. Box 8988, Missoula, MT 59807, Counsel for Amici Robert Kopp, Michael Oppenheimer, Kristina Dahl, Brenda Ekwurzel, Peter C. Frumhoff, Gary B. Griggs, Sverre L. Leroy, L. Delta Merner, & Donald J. Wuebbles (No. 22-1096).

Ron Kilgard , Keller Rohrback, 3101 N. Central Ave., Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85012, Counsel for Amici Robert Brulle, Center for Climate Integrity, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Justin Farrell, Benjamin Franta, Stephan Lewandowsky, Naomi Oreskes, Geoffrey Supran, & Union of Concerned Scientists (No. 22-1096).

Kenneth T. Kristl , Widener University School of Law, 4601 Concord Pike, P.O. Box 7474, Wilmington, DE 19803, Counsel for Amici Legal Scholars (No. 22-1096).

Before: McKEE, RESTREPO, and BIBAS, Circuit Judges.


OPINION OF THE COURT

Our federal system trusts state courts to hear most cases—even big, important ones that raise federal defenses. Plaintiffs choose which claims to file, in which court, and under which law. Defendants may prefer federal court, but they may not remove...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases