Katrina Victims Sue Companies for Causing Global Warming

[DoctorFinger]

I read this headline and thought for a brief moment that it was from The Onion (http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/10/19/next-move-suing-the-sun-for-unseasonably-cool-weather/). Sadly, it's not. The New Orleans-based Fifth Circuit, the federal court of appeals where I once clerked, has allowed a class action lawsuit by Hurricane Katrina victims to proceed against a motley crew of energy, oil, and chemical companies. Their claim: that the defendants’ greenhouse gas emissions raised air and water temperatures on the Gulf Coast, contributing to Katrina’s strength and causing property damage. Mass tort litigation specialist Russell Jackson calls the plaintiffs’ claims “the litigator’s equivalent to the game ‘Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.’”Where do I begin? While there's a lot of science out there which lays anthropogenic global warming at the feet of CO2 emissions, it's far from accepted fact. But let's stipulate for a moment that CO2 increases relate directly to global temperature increases. The suit then relies on the theory that the supposed increase in temperatures contributed directly to the massive damage caused by the hurricane.

This is example #7294 of tort lawyers gone wild. To sue energy concerns for a natural disaster. The mind boggles.

[ShivaX]

Well most of the scientific community agrees that emissions are contributing to global warming and whatnot. The problem is that theres far from a direct cause effect between Katrina and global warming. Storms like Katrina have happened for centuries and statistically one was bound to hit New Orleans at some point.

Not to mention you'd be hard pressed to prove that those companies emmissions directly led to anything happening even if it was global warming that caused Katrina. They could very easily say things would have been fine if China or Europeans emmissions hadn't been there at the same time.

Its a stupid as hell lawsuit with an extremely flimsy premise. Even if you could prove the premise, you still couldn't blame specific companies.

[BigJonno]

Well most of the scientific community agrees that emissions are contributing to global warming and whatnot.

Now don't start that again! :D

The story is possibly the most incredibly stupid thing I've heard all year. It's bad enough that someone thought of it, it's even worse that someone in the courts saw the paperwork and didn't just laugh at it. What's next, being an accessory to murder because you might have slightly annoyed some homicidal maniac that you passed in the street that day?

[OUX]

Well most of the scientific community agrees that emissions are contributing to global warming and whatnot.

Actually, most of the scientific communities agree that the earth is on a roughly 30 year cooling and warming cycle.

[Hawkzombie]

Hope they don't forget to include cows for farting.

[Crowe]

Yes and I'm sure none of these people are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere. There has to be some point where you accept that things like this happen and move on.

[Generation ABXY]

Yes and I'm sure none of these people are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions being released into the atmosphere.

That would be my thought on it. Without even getting into all the sticky details of Global Warming, you might just have to ask whether these people used anything that came from these companies - if they did, it would seem they are just as culpable here...

[evilgoodwin]

This will totally steal the spotlight from my lawsuit against Science itself for making things inconvenient every now and then.

[Panthera]

Actually, most of the scientific communities agree that the earth is on a roughly 30 year cooling and warming cycle.

Let's say I stub my toe and then get kicked in the balls. I'd be an idiot to believe my toe pain means anthropogenic ball pain is a conspiracy.

[Kielaran]

That would be my thought on it. Without even getting into all the sticky details of Global Warming, you might just have to ask whether these people used anything that came from these companies - if they did, it would seem they are just as culpable here...

Don't forget driving. If any of them used a motor vehicle, then they would be guilty as well.

[ShivaX]

Don't forget driving. If any of them used a motor vehicle, then they would be guilty as well.

Or ever ate beef.

I mean even if they never used electricity, drove a vehicle or ate meat odds are pretty damned good they still benefitted from others doing those things. Even the Amish can't claim they've never benefitted from those things and I'm betting if you lived in New Orleans you're not Amish.

[Narradisall]

Well God created the land, sea and all the systems in place. So in part his at fault too for providing these! I hope they're suing him too.

If nearly everyone contributes to CO2 emissions there is no way to directly apportion the Katrina incident to any particular companies. They won't win this.

[Generation ABXY]

Well God created the land, sea and all the systems in place. So in part his at fault too for providing these! I hope they're suing him too.

Alas, it's been tried before (albeit to serve some political activism). Even though He may be omniscient, the court couldn't prove that He had been served notice and it didn't hold up.

[evilgoodwin]

Oh, what if they sued their lawyers for not preventing them from losing money by creating stupid lawsuits?

[Wasson_]

those people need...to just be electrocuted, burned, poisoned something needs to kill these people and fast, and bullets too slow.

[LongStepMantis]

those people need...to just be electrocuted, burned, poisoned something needs to kill these people and fast, and bullets too slow.

They saw money and tried to grabe it.
I weep for the humens.

[Wasson_]

Emissions...you killed WIFE?!

[Narradisall]

Alas, it's been tried before (albeit to serve some political activism). Even though He may be omniscient, the court couldn't prove that He had been served notice and it didn't hold up.

I remember reading about a law suit on God ages back. I thought they'd served it on his representatives on earth though (i.e. the various religious heads).

[Generation ABXY]

Nope, they just threw it out as far as I know. Besides, it got the guy media attention, which was really all he was after (as I said, he was doing for a cause of some sort).

[Narradisall]

Well if God can't be held accountable for his actions good luck getting big companies to do so.

[LongStepMantis]

I remember reading about a law suit on God ages back. I thought they'd served it on his representatives on earth though (i.e. the various religious heads).

That makes me wish that the plaintiff had suffered a massive aneurysm, in court, and died. Not because I hate the guy or am angry, just that it would be so epic in the reactions.

"Oh shit, God killed him! Run! We're sorry!"

[Narradisall]

That makes me wish that the plaintiff had suffered a massive aneurysm, in court, and died. Not because I hate the guy or am angry, just that it would be so epic in the reactions.

"Oh shit, God killed him! Run! We're sorry!"

If the stock he came from was anything like him, they probably would have demanded God be charged with 1st degree murder.

[Deadend]

Don't blame the corporations, blame the consumer culture, blatant disregard for consequences and those that feel that the way things are is just fine and dandy. So really, blame America.

Class Action Lawsuits are mostly done by lawyers 'on behalf of' victims, IE: Lawyer researches something, then goes looking for people to represent and tells them that it's no cost to them, all they have to do is sign at the X.

This one was done for attention and it was super effective.