May 30, 2025
From Grief to Court: A Climate Lawsuit That Could Change Everything
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Discover how one woman’s fight for justice against fossil fuel companies could shift climate accountability and pave the way for future climate-related lawsuits worldwide.
Welcome to this riveting episode of Bigger Table, where personal loss meets global accountability. Join us as we delve into the heart-wrenching story of Misty Leon, a woman who lost her mother, Juliana Leon, during the unprecedented 2021 heatwave in Seattle. This tragic event, directly linked to climate change, set Misty on a courageous path to justice as she took on the world's largest oil companies in a landmark lawsuit.
Listen in as we uncover the lawsuit's bold claims, supported by solid scientific evidence that underscores how emissions from ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, and other major corporations contributed to the deadly heat. Learn about the significance of this case, the legal stakes involved, and the cautious or dismissive responses from the companies implicated in this potentially game-changing climate litigation.
Explore the broader implications for our world, as this case could redefine how governments, companies, and courts approach the human costs of climate change. As Misty Leon fights for her family and our future, her struggle represents a transformative moment in the climate justice movement. This episode highlights why climate change is not just an environmental issue, but a life and death matter demanding accountability from those responsible for its impacts.
Tune in to understand the potential historic precedent this case might set and consider how it could reshape climate policy and corporate behavior worldwide. Join the conversation for an insightful exploration of Misty Leon's battle against the status quo, advocating for more voices, fewer barriers, and meaningful progress.
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Imagine losing your mother in a heat wave that scientists say would never have
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happened without climate change, and then taking the world's biggest oil companies to court.
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You're listening to Bigger Table, where more chairs, fewer walls,
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and greater progress aren't just a slogan.
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They're the mission. Let's get into it.
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Welcome to today's episode, where we dive into a deeply personal yet groundbreaking
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story at the intersection of climate change and accountability.
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Imagine losing a loved one to an extreme heat wave, a tragic event that many
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now know is fueled by climate change, then deciding to take the world's biggest
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oil companies to court over it.
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That's precisely what Misty Leon is doing in a landmark lawsuit that could reshape
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how we think about corporate responsibility and climate justice.
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Join us as we explore the story behind this lawsuit, the science behind it,
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the stakes involved, and what it means for the future.
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Let's start by setting the scene. June 28, 2021, Seattle experienced one of
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the hottest days on record, 108 degrees Fahrenheit, or 42 degrees Celsius,
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an unprecedented heat wave born out of climate change.
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For Juliana Leon, a 65-year-old woman, this wasn't just another hot day.
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She had just returned from a long, exhausting 100-mile round trip for a medical appointment.
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Her car's air conditioning wasn't working, and when she arrived home,
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she was found unconscious inside her vehicle.
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Despite emergency medical efforts, she tragically died due to heat-related complications.
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Her daughter, Misty Leon, faced immeasurable grief but also mounting questions.
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This wasn't just a personal loss, it was a climate tragedy.
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And Misty wanted answers and accountability.
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She believed that the companies behind fossil fuels, the very drivers of climate
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change, should bear responsibility for her mother's death.
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So, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Washington state.
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The defendants, seven major oil and gas companies, ExxonMobil,
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Chevron, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, and BP's subsidiary Olympic Pipeline Company.
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The lawsuit's core claim is bold and direct.
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These companies have known for decades that burning fossil fuels causes climate
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change, yet they deliberately misled the public and failed to warn about the deadly consequences.
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Let's pause here. Why is this so significant? While climate change lawsuits
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aren't new, there have been numerous attempts to hold oil companies accountable
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for environmental harm, such as rising sea levels and wildfires.
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But Misty's case is different.
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It's personal. It's the first time that a family is directly linking a death
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from a climate-fueled disaster, this devastating heat wave, to the actions of fossil fuel companies.
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This is a potential game-changer in climate litigation, And the science behind it is solid.
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Peer-reviewed research concluded that the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave was
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virtually impossible, without human-caused climate change intensifying the temperatures.
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This scientific evidence strengthens Misty's case and underlines how the emissions
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from these companies contributed directly to the deadly heat.
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But what about the companies? So far, their responses have been cautious or dismissive.
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Chevron called it a political move exploiting a personal tragedy,
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while Shell and Phillips 66 declined to comment.
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This illustrates the sensitivity of the stakes.
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If courts side with Misty Leon, it won't just be about money.
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It will force oil companies to acknowledge the human cost of their emissions,
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opening the door to lawsuits that hold them accountable for individual deaths
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tied to climate disasters such as heat waves, hurricanes, and floods.
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What could this mean for our world?
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As climate change intensifies, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.
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The legal precedent set by this case could have a ripple effect worldwide,
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shifting how governments, corporations, and courts perceive responsibility for
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climate change-related harms.
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It challenges the idea that climate disasters are acts of nature,
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with no direct human blame.
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Before we close, let's consider the broader picture.
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Misty Leon's fight is profoundly personal, but also a battle for the future, our future.
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As we face a warming world, her lawsuit signals a new chapter in the climate
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justice movement, one where victims seek concrete accountability and legal redress,
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potentially transforming climate policy and corporate behavior.
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So, what can we take away from this?
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First, climate change is no longer just an environmental issue.
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It's a life and death issue affecting families everywhere.
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Second, there is growing momentum to hold fossil fuel companies responsible,
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not just for their pollution, but also for their human consequences.
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And third, as this case unfolds in a Washington courtroom, it could set a historic
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precedent that reverberates through climate litigation worldwide.
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Thanks for tuning in. If you found this story powerful, share it with someone
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who needs to hear it, and join us next time as we keep challenging the status quo, one story at a time.
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Thanks for pulling up a chair at Bigger Table. If you believe in more voices,
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fewer walls, and real progress, please help us grow.
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Follow, review, and share this podcast.
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Until next time, keep building a bigger table.
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