Latest news with #ScottWeiner
CBS News
27-01-2025
- Business
- CBS News
California fire victims could recover damages from oil companies under proposed law
SACRAMENTO — A newly proposed California state law would create a new pathway for victims of wildfires and insurance companies to sue oil companies over climate change. Democratic State Senator Scott Weiner introduced the bill, directly linking the wildfires to climate change caused by oil companies, as part of the statewide response to the Los Angeles-area wildfires. "Absolutely catastrophic wildfires happening in the middle of winter," Weiner said. "For insurance companies, they're going to have to, if this bill passes, they're going to have to take a very hard look at seeking compensation from the oil companies." Republican State Senator Roger Niello is opposed to the bill. "It will be an invitation for lawsuits," Niello said. "This furthers the narrative, the false narrative that this is all about climate change. It is of course much more complicated than that." Niello said forest management and cuts to fire departments should also be considered for their roles in California wildfire disasters. Western States Petroleum Association CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd issued a statement that said: "The announcement of today's proposal is the latest installment of an ongoing effort to scapegoat our industry — and the thousands of hardworking women and men who keep California running." Jamie Court with Consumer Watchdog said the bill would create a new payer in the aftermath of wildfire disaster: oil companies. "It's probably going to go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court," Court said. "It's no different than tobacco companies. Tobacco companies hid the dangers of tobacco and they were ultimately held liable for billions of dollars in health care costs. It's the same theory." As rebuilding in Southern California begins, this proposed law would have oil companies pay part of the price.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bay Area official introduces bill that would allow wildfire victims to sue oil companies
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A Bay Area elected official has introduced a bill that could allow California residents impacted by wildfires and other climate-related disasters to sue oil companies. Senate Bill 222 was introduced Monday by State Sen. Scott Weiner. ICE agents were in downtown SF Friday, according to local official SB 222, according to Weiner, would ensure that oil companies pay for 'the climate-fueled disasters that are burning and flooding California.' 'Californians are bearing these costs with explosive insurance premium increases that make CA less affordable,' Weiner added. 'That has to change.' The bill would allow victims of fires and other climate disasters to seek damages from fossil fuel companies in court. It would also allow insurance companies to seek damage from oil companies 'so that increasing premiums isn't the only way to recoup losses.' Finally, SB 222 would allow California's FAIR Plan, state-sponsored insurance that is a last resort for many homeowners in fire-prone areas, to seek damages from fossil fuel companies. 'Californians shouldn't be the only ones to pay the costs of devastating climate disasters,' Weiner said on X, formerly Twitter. 'From last year's floods to the fires in LA, we know that the fossil fuel industry bears ultimate responsibility for fueling these disasters.' 'The fossil fuel companies knew this was going to happen,' Weiner continued. 'They had the studies decades ago, suppressed them and obstructed policy changes to transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy.' The bill, according to Weiner, would force fossil fuel companies 'to be part of the solution instead of dumping this burden on policyholders.' It will also help make people whole from losses from climate disasters and improve insurance affordability, Weiner said. SB 222 was co-authored by State Sen. Sash Renee Perez (D-Pasadena) among others. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
