The idea came up in oral arguments in Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Tuesday in a case challenging Exxon Mobil’s record on addressing the threat of global warming and the attorney general's claim that the company misinformed the public over the threat.
Justice Frank Gaziano asked how gas stations are involved in "deception or fraud related to climate change."
"Because, your honor, the gas sold at those gas stations is among the premier contributors to global warming," Healey's lawyer, Richard Johnston, responded.
Healey has asked for information from Exxon related to the marketing of fossil fuels in Massachusetts, "including advertisements, in particular," Johnston said.
"So, I own Joe's gas station on the corner, I'm a franchisee, and you're telling me that I have information that relates to how Exxon Mobil, this gi-normous corporation, has marketed and lied on climate change?" Gaziano asked.
"If they’re doing sales and marketing in Massachusetts, and they know things that they should be telling people ‐ either consumers or investors ‐ that would be relevant to the consumers or investors’ decisions, then they’ve gotta make that part of their advertising. They can’t simply go around and say, ’We’re selling you this terrific product,’ and keep to themselves what they know about the possible impacts of those products on global warming," Johnston said.