Seventh Circuit Keeps Chicago Climate-Deception Case in State Court

The Seventh Circuit's July 16, 2026 ruling keeping Chicago's climate-deception lawsuit against fossil fuel companies in state court is a significant procedural win for municipal climate plaintiffs. The fossil fuel accountability litigation strategy has consistently sought federal removal as a defense tactic; keeping these cases in state court typically favors plaintiff-friendly procedural rules and juries more sympathetic to climate harm narratives. The Montana youth climate case also advanced, with a court ruling keeping the constitutional environmental protection claim in Broadwater County, while youth plaintiffs separately sought full Ninth Circuit review of Trump fossil fuel orders. Corporate environmental counsel should be tracking the convergence of state-court climate deception cases and constitutional youth climate cases — the two litigation strategies are increasingly complementary.