Massachusetts Accuses Exxon In Lawsuit Of Climate Change Deceit

Massachusetts sued Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Thursday, accusing the oil giant of misleading investors and consumers for decades about the role fossil fuels play in climate change.

Attorney General Maura Healey filed the lawsuit shortly after Exxon lost a bid to delay the filing until after it is done defending itself in a trial that began Tuesday over similar allegations brought by the state of New York.

The lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston alleged Exxon systematically misled investors about climate-driven risks to its business and deceived auto drivers and other consumers about the role fossil fuel products play in causing climate change.

“Our goal here is simple: to stop Exxon from engaging in this deception and penalize it for this conduct,” Healey told reporters.