Environmental Litigation
Climate
Alteration
For decades, the companies that produce, sell, and promote fossil fuels knew about the impact their products would have on the climate — and the damage that impact would cause to communities, infrastructure, and natural resources. Internal research showed it. Public statements denied it. The result has been increased wildfires, flooding, crop damage, drought, and billions of dollars in infrastructure costs borne by the public while the industry profited.
Singleton Schreiber is litigating claims for these climate-caused harms, holding fossil fuel companies accountable for both the damage their products caused and their decades-long campaign to conceal that damage from the public. Our cases have already survived two challenges at the U.S. Supreme Court — a significant milestone for climate accountability litigation nationwide.
The Case for Accountability
Knowledge, Concealment, and Profit
Singleton Schreiber is currently pursuing climate alteration actions in Colorado highlighting the more than 90 percent increase in fossil fuel combustion — an increase that has contributed to pestilence, crop damage, increased wildfires, and rising infrastructure costs across the state. Fossil fuel-driven changes to weather patterns have also caused severe flooding events that damage water resources and physical landscapes, while reshaping farming practices and producing significant economic losses for communities.
At the heart of these cases is a simple but powerful allegation: the companies that produce, sell, and promote fossil fuels knew about the climate impact of their products and the damage that impact would cause to natural resources — but concealed that knowledge from the public in pursuit of billions of dollars in profits. This pattern of internal knowledge paired with public denial is the foundation of climate deception litigation across the country, and Singleton Schreiber's cases are among those leading the way.
The litigation has already cleared a critical hurdle. Defendants — including major oil companies — sought to remove these cases to federal court and ultimately challenged them at the U.S. Supreme Court not once, but twice. Both times, the cases survived, allowing the litigation to proceed in state court where it belongs. That outcome reflects the strength of the underlying claims and the seriousness with which courts are treating climate accountability litigation.
The Firm's Position
- Cases survived two U.S. Supreme Court challenges
- Litigation proceeding in Colorado state courts
- Dedicated team for Native community impacts
- 120+ attorneys, ~450 staff firmwide
- Offices across CA, NM, OR, WA, CO, HI, UT, MS
Disproportionate Impact
Native Communities on the Front Lines
One of the most heavily impacted areas of climate alteration is Native American communities, which have seen an increase in flooding, loss of land base due to rising sea levels, and the erosion of native flora and fauna, fires, drought, and infrastructure impacts. Erosion of lands has affected crop production and damaged culturally significant sites — harms that go beyond economic loss and strike at the heart of cultural continuity. Singleton Schreiber has created a team focusing solely on the negative impact of climate alteration on Native communities and is at the forefront of pursuing actions to remedy this harm.
Land & Coastal Loss
Rising sea levels and erosion are reducing tribal land bases, threatening homes, infrastructure, and traditional ways of life tied to specific places.
Ecosystem Disruption
Native flora and fauna central to traditional practices, food sources, and cultural identity are being lost to shifting climate conditions.
Cultural Site Damage
Wildfires, flooding, and erosion are damaging sites of deep cultural and historical significance — losses that cannot be measured in dollars alone.
Legal Milestone
Surviving the U.S. Supreme Court — Twice
Fossil fuel defendants have repeatedly sought to derail climate accountability litigation by moving cases out of state court and challenging jurisdiction at the highest level. Singleton Schreiber's climate alteration cases have survived two separate challenges at the U.S. Supreme Court — allowing the litigation to proceed and setting important precedent for similar cases being pursued by cities, counties, and tribes across the country.
Press & Recognition
Climate Litigation In the News
Common Questions
Climate Alteration FAQ
Climate alteration litigation seeks to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the costs of climate-related harms — increased wildfires, flooding, crop damage, and infrastructure costs — caused by decades of fossil fuel production combined with the industry's knowing concealment of the resulting harms from the public.
Internal industry research dating back decades shows that major fossil fuel companies were aware of the link between fossil fuel combustion and climate change, yet continued to publicly deny or downplay those risks while pursuing billions of dollars in profits. This pattern of knowledge followed by concealment is central to climate deception litigation.
Yes. Singleton Schreiber's climate cases, including litigation on behalf of the City of Boulder, Colorado, have survived two separate challenges at the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing the litigation to proceed in state court. This represents a significant legal milestone for climate accountability litigation nationwide.
Native American communities have experienced disproportionate harm from climate alteration — including increased flooding, loss of land base from rising sea levels, erosion of native flora and fauna, wildfires, drought, infrastructure damage, and damage to culturally significant sites. Singleton Schreiber has created a dedicated team focused on pursuing claims to remedy these harms.
Public entities such as cities and counties, tribal nations, and in some cases private parties who have suffered measurable economic harm from climate-related events may be able to pursue claims against fossil fuel companies for the costs of adaptation, infrastructure damage, and other climate-related expenses.
Holding Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable
They Knew. They Hid It.
Now They Answer For It.
If your community, tribe, or organization has suffered climate-related harm, contact our team to discuss your legal options.
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