Big Oil Lied.
People Died.
Timeline: Multnomah County v. Exxon Mobil, et al. (Case No. 23CV25264)
2015, 2018, 2021 & 2023
September 2020
June 25-July 7, 2021
June 22, 2023
June 22, 2023
August 18, 2023
October 2, 2023
April 10, 2024
June 10, 2024
July 10, 2024
February 4 & 5, 2025
February 4 &5, 2025
April 8, 2025
July 8, 2025
July 8, 2025
October 7, 2025
December 18, 2025
January 6, 2026
January 8, 2026
January 14-27, 2026
January 29, 2026
Pacific Northwest (PNW) drought
PNW wildfires, smoke pollution
PNW Heat Dome, Temps reach 117°F in Multnomah County, causing mass casualties
Multnomah County (“Multco”) passes Resolution 2023-065 “Declaring Climate Change a Public Nuisance and Authorizing the Office of County Attorney to Pursue Legal Remedies for Damages Caused by Climate Change”
Multco files civil complaint for Public Nuisance, Negligence, Fraud & Deceit, and Trespass in Oregon Circuit Court for the County of Multnomah.
Defendants Remove lawsuit to Federal District Court.
Multco files Motion to Remand Case back to Oregon Circuit Court
Federal Magistrate Recommends Granting of Multco’s Motion to Remand.
United States District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson orders Multco’s case back to Oregon Circuit Court.
Case designated “Complex” and assigned to Judge Benjamin Souede.
Defendants file Motions to Dismiss Multco’s case for Lack of Jurisdiction and Failure to State a Claim (Fed reemption, First Amendment, etc.).
Defendants file Motions to Strike Multco’s case under Oregon’s Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (Anti-SLAPP) statute.
President Trump Issues Executive Order 14260 directing the Attorney General to stop state and local lawsuits and legislation which seek to hold domestic fossil fuel companies responsible for the impacts of climate change.
Multco files briefs in Opposition to Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss.
Multco files briefs in Opposition to Defendants’ Anti-SLAPP Motions to Strike.
Defendants file Motions to Strike Expert Declarations and Reports filed in support of Multco’s Oppositions to Defendants Motions to Dismiss and Anti-SLAPP Motions to Strike.
Judge Souede schedules oral argument hearing for Defendants Motions to Dismiss and Anti-SLAPP Motions to Strike for January 20 and 21, 2026.
Judge Souede announces his recusal in a letter to counsel stating “I am writing to inform you that I have recently and unexpectedly discovered that I have a conflict in this matter. I have concluded, regretfully that this conflict requires me to disqualify myself in this case pursuant to the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct. … I am also sorry that I was unaware of this conflict until now, understanding that the timing of this discovery enhances that inconvenience.” The letter states that “present motion hearing dates are hereby stricken.”
Court issues Order Re-Assigning Case to Judge Adele Ridenour.
Judge Ridenour’s staff communicate 5 open days to conduct a 2-day hearing for all Defendants’ pending motions from March 10-18, 2026. Defendants advise not all defense counsel available and request later dates. Judge Ridenour’s staff provide 8 open days from May 26-June 25. Defendants advise the only dates that work for all defense counsel are June 24 and 25, 2026.
Judge Ridenour conducts a Status/Case Management Conference. Multco’s request to schedule the hearing of Defendants’ motions (filed almost 1 year earlier) on the court’s 5 open days in March 2026 is rejected. Hearings scheduled for June 24 and 25, 2026 (additional dates in October discussed if hearings go beyond 2 days).
NOTES re STATUS
Procedural Rules preclude Multco from conducting discovery until Defendants’ motions are ruled upon.
Defendants have not answered Multco’s Complaint