A new legal strategy has emerged in the ongoing climate litigation efforts against the energy industry, spearheaded by groups funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. The Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) is leading a wrongful death lawsuit that aims to hold oil companies accountable for extreme weather events. This case stems from the death of a Washington woman during a 2021 heatwave, with her daughter filing the lawsuit in May against seven energy companies.
The New York Times reported that CCI approached Misti Leon, whose mother died from heatstroke, suggesting she file a wrongful death suit on behalf of her mother’s estate. Records obtained by The Washington Free Beacon indicate that CCI not only advised Leon but also drafted the complaint. Metadata from the filing identifies Naomi Spoelman, a senior attorney at CCI, as its author.
Two days before filing the lawsuit, Leon transferred control of her mother’s estate to Sarah Myhre, Director of Partnerships at Democracy Forward. Although Democracy Forward claims no involvement in this specific case, it has supported other climate lawsuits and communicated closely with California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office regarding climate litigation.
Time Magazine recently profiled this lawsuit as an attempt to set a precedent for holding oil companies responsible for individual deaths. However, critics point out omissions in both the complaint and media coverage. The Washington Free Beacon revealed that Leon’s mother had hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which may have contributed to her vulnerability during the heatwave.
Experts criticize this selective framing and question whether all relevant medical details are being presented accurately. Leslie Eastman wrote in Legal Insurrection about potential risks if fossil fuel production is limited due to such lawsuits. Jason Issac of the American Energy Institute expressed concerns over activist groups’ intentions: “Their [activist groups] goal isn’t justice; it’s to bleed energy companies dry and funnel the proceeds into radical environmental projects.”
This lawsuit represents another chapter in ongoing climate litigation efforts but follows familiar tactics and involves known players like CCI.
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