Farmers Withdraws Climate Change Suit Against Municipalities

Farmers Insurance Group, which filed nine class actions in May against nearly 200 communities in the Chicago area, is withdrawing its lawsuit. The suit accused the Illinois municipalities of failing to prepare for severe rains and flooding. It argued that the local governments should have known rising global temperatures would lead to heavier rains and should have done more to fortify their sewers and stormwater drains. Some have speculated it could be the first in what could be a wave of litigation over who should be liable for the possible costs of climate change.