Energy Law

BigLaw firms’ internal investigation likely protected from lawsuit disclosure, 6th Circuit says

The fruits of internal investigations conducted by two BigLaw firms for an energy company are likely protected from disclosure by attorney-client privilege and the work-product doctrine, a federal appeals court said in an Aug. 7 order.

Aug 13, 2025 9:10 AM CDT

Climate change suit alleging energy companies created public nuisance may proceed, top state court says

Two energy companies accused of contributing to climate change can be sued in state court, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled last week.

May 20, 2025 8:50 AM CDT

Supreme Court clears way for Biden’s plan to cut power plant emissions

The Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for a Biden administration plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants burning fossil fuels, denying an emergency appeal by more than two dozen Republican-led states, utilities and others.

Oct 17, 2024 10:30 AM CDT

Federal judge tosses lawyers from case after concluding they failed to diligently represent shareholders

U.S. District Judge John Adams of Akron, Ohio, is looking for new lawyers to represent a utility company’s shareholders after tossing current counsel from the case.

Jul 14, 2022 3:40 PM CDT

PG&E faces involuntary manslaughter and other charges in Zogg Fire

The Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter for its failure to cut down a tree that fell on power lines and sparked the Zogg Fire last year.

Sep 27, 2021 10:52 AM CDT

After judge takes umbrage at dissenter’s ‘sound and fury’ quote, 5th Circuit grants en banc rehearing

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans has granted an en banc rehearing in a case in which the judge who wrote the majority opinion took umbrage at a dissenter’s quotation from Macbeth.

Mar 11, 2021 10:07 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Another state plans remote bar exam in July; Texas AG sues electric company over huge bills

So far, 9 jurisdictions have plan for remote bar exam in July California’s July 2021 bar exam will be remote, the California Supreme Court announced Friday. The first testing day, on July 27, will consist of five one-hour essay questions and a 90-minute performance test, according to the administrative order.…

Mar 2, 2021 4:45 PM CST

Suits multiply over Texas power outages; is power grid operator protected by sovereign immunity?

Lawsuits are already being filed against the operator of the power grid in Texas over lost lives, property damage and business interruption caused by power outages during the winter storm in February.

Feb 24, 2021 12:11 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Another Trump campaign loss in court; donor sues to get back $2.5M

Top Pennsylvania court tosses challenge to mail-in ballot law Republican plaintiffs waited too long to file a lawsuit challenging a 2019 Pennsylvania law that allowed no-excuse mail-in voting, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled late Saturday. The court tossed the suit with prejudice. (The Washington Post, Politico, How Appealing) Donor sues…

Nov 30, 2020 4:17 PM CST

Pro Bone-o: Chicago animal shelter gets treats from ABA public service project

An old T-shirt, a pair of scissors and a little patience. That’s all members of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources needed for their first virtual public service project, where they cut and braided fabric into dog tug toys for the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago on Tuesday.

Oct 28, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Oregon law professor plants seeds of change in climate change law

University of Oregon School of Law professor Mary Wood, a former hazardous waste lawyer, never foresaw that she would become a pioneer in climate change law. It wasn’t even an established practice area in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina—which many scientists attributed to global warming—changed the course of her life from more than 2,000 miles away.

Nov 1, 2019 4:00 AM CDT

Lawyers are unleashing a flurry of lawsuits to step up the fight against climate change

Traditionally relegated to the statutory realm of environmental and administrative law, a cadre of attorneys and legal scholars has given the climate change issue a creative facelift that may change the legal landscape—and, they say, could determine the fate of humanity.

Nov 1, 2019 12:00 AM CDT

Suspended lawyer ordered to pay $3.4M in attorney fees to Chevron as contempt sanction

A suspended lawyer who was found in contempt of court for stonewalling Chevron’s efforts to collect a money judgment against him has been ordered to pay $3.4 million in attorney fees to the oil company. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered New York lawyer Steven Donziger to pay the attorney…

Jul 24, 2019 2:56 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: R. Kelly accused of sexual racketeering; in vitro fertilization mix-up leads to lawsuits

• Federal indictments in New York and Chicago accuse R&B singer R. Kelly of racketeering, producing child pornography and obstructing justice in connection with sexual exploitation of young girls and women. The New York indictment says Kelly had strict rules of behavior for his sexual recruits, including that they call…

Jul 12, 2019 4:34 PM CDT

New Michigan AG withdraws state from suits challenging Obama-era EPA regulations

Michigan’s new Democratic attorney general, Dana Nessel, has announced she is withdrawing Michigan from lawsuits challenging federal environmental regulations to curb greenhouse gases and toxic emissions. Nessel announced Tuesday she was withdrawing from four suits challenging Environmental Protection Agency regulations enacted during the administration of President Barack Obama, report Bridge…

Jan 23, 2019 1:04 PM CST