LOS ANGELES— A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered the oil industry this week to pay over $1.2 million in legal fees to Youth for Environmental Justice, the South Central Youth Leadership Coalition and the Center for Biological Diversity — and over $1 million to the city of Los Angeles — for bringing a retaliatory lawsuit against the groups.
The California Independent Petroleum Association, an oil-and-gas trade association, filed the SLAPP suit (“Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation”) after the groups won protection against neighborhood oil drilling from the city. In 2019 a California appeals court dismissed the oil industry’s suit as a baseless attack on the groups.
“This win shows that justice is taking place, though the fees the oil industry is being forced to pay are a joke in comparison to the suffering that takes place day to day in our communities,” said Nalleli Cobo, an activist with the South Central Youth Leadership Coalition. “Whether it be physical, emotional, or economic, our people are being affected. This is the reality for millions of Angelenos. We’re not afraid to defend our rights and will continue to fight until our communities are healthy and safe.”
See the Center for Biological Diversity’s press release featuring CBE here.