California and Another Frivolous Lawsuit

How is it that California can set the most restrictive emmission controls in the country and when the auto makers meet them, then sue the makers for polluting?

California, which has battled the automotive industry over new global warming regulations for years, sued the world’s six-largest automakers yesterday, demanding that they pay for environmental damage caused by the emissions of their vehicles.

“Global warming is causing significant harm to California’s environment, economy, agriculture and public health,” said the state’s attorney general, Bill Lockyer.

“Vehicle emissions are the single most rapidly growing source of the carbon emissions contributing to global warming, yet the federal government and automakers have refused to act.”

The suit, filed in United States District Court in Northern California, is the first such attempt to hold automakers accountable for the greenhouse gases that vehicles produce. It accuses General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan of creating a public nuisance by building millions of vehicles that collectively discharge 289 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually.

Mr. Lockyer contends that the products of the six companies are responsible for a fifth of the carbon dioxide emissions nationwide and nearly a third of the emissions in California, which has more vehicles than any other state.

He said he would seek at least “tens of millions” in damages for past, current and future contributions to air pollution, beach erosion and reduced water supplies.

The automakers named in the suit declined to comment on it directly, but a trade group representing them labeled the accusations a “nuisance suit” similar to an unsuccessful attempt by several Northeastern states to hold utilities liable for environmental damages.

I think the car makers should do what they've previously done with similar lawsuits, stop selling the plaintiff cars. Ford did that with police suits on the Crown Vic, I don't see any reason that these car makers can't do the same.

And to think we thought that only gun makers would be attacked for the legal use of their products.