lawsuit Blames Big Oil for washington Heat Wave Death
Updated June 08,2025
A Washington state lawsuit is holding major oil companies accountable for a death during the Pacific Northwest’s historic 2021 heat wave. Misti Leon filed the suit, alleging her mother’s death was a direct result of climate change intensified by the companies’ actions.The extreme heat, which claimed at least 100 lives in Washington between june 26 and July 2, 2021, marked the state’s deadliest weather event.
The complaint asserts that ExxonMobil,BP,Chevron,Shell,ConocoPhillips,and Phillips 66 bear responsibility for increased atmospheric CO2 levels. Leon’s suit claims the companies’ actions led to the “virtually impossible weather event” and extreme temperatures.
The Bechtold Law Firm, representing the plaintiff, seeks damages and a public education campaign to counter what it describes as ”decades of misinformation” from the oil companies. the suit brings state tort law claims of wrongful death, failure to warn, and public nuisance.
Phillips 66 declined comment. Other companies named in the suit did not respond to requests for comment.
This case joins over two dozen climate damages and deception cases against major oil and gas companies by municipal, state, and tribal governments. However, it stands as the first climate liability lawsuit brought by an individual against the fossil fuel industry.
“This is the first case that is directly making the connection between the misconduct and lies of big oil companies and a specific,personalized tragedy,the death of Julie Leon,” saeid Aaron Regunberg,accountability director for Public Citizen’s climate program.
What’s next
The lawsuit’s progress will be closely watched as it could set a precedent for individual climate change litigation against major corporations.
