A federal court in Puerto Rico has dismissed a suit by 37 municipalities against Exxon, Shell, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips and Motiva and other oil producers.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2022, accused the oil companies of knowingly contributing to global warming and misleading the public about the risks of fossil fuel emissions. The plaintiffs argued that the companies engaged in a decades-long campaign to deny climate science, delay the adoption of cleaner energy technologies, and maximize profits—all while knowing that the continued burning of fossil fuels would exacerbate severe weather events.

The plaintiff municipalities specifically pointed to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, which caused catastrophic infrastructure damage, displaced thousands, and led to significant loss of life. They alleged that the oil companies' conduct worsened the impacts of those storms by contributing to climate change, ultimately costing local governments billions in recovery efforts.

Most of the claims were filed under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which was enacted to prosecute organized criminal activity.

In its opinion, the court found the claims were filed too late under the applicable statutes of limitations. According to the court, the municipalities "knew or should have known" of the alleged connection between fossil fuel emissions, climate change, and the destructive hurricanes well before the 2022 filing date.