New York courts have dismissed three recent lawsuits alleging greenwashing practices at major companies, underscoring the challenge of seeking consumer protection claims in New York City and New York State, as Jones Day writes in a post on its website.
In City of New York v. Exxon Mobil Corp, plaintiffs alleged that the company engaged in deceptive trade practices, in violation of the state’s Consumer Protection Law (CPL), by way of greenwashing claims regarding the company’s fossil fuel products and their commitment to addressing climate change concerns.
In dismissing the case, the court said the defendant’s general statements about climate change were aspirational, or opinion-based, and unlikely to mislead, Cooley wrote. The court also said that the plaintiff failed to show that the statements in question were made in connection with the sale of a consumer good, as required by the CPL…