Misti Leon Sues Big Oil Over Mother's Death in Climate-Linked Heat Wave
Misti Leon has filed a lawsuit against major oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP, following the death of her mother, Juliana Leon, during a record-breaking heat wave in the Pacific Northwest in 2021. This legal action is notable as it seeks to hold these companies accountable for their role in climate change, which Leon argues directly contributed to her mother's death. The case has been cleared for discovery and trial by a Washington judge, marking a significant step in climate litigation. The heat wave, described as a 'heat dome,' was linked to human-caused climate change, with scientists asserting that such an event would have been virtually impossible without it. Juliana Leon was among approximately 1,200 people whose deaths were attributed to the heat dome, with her death specifically caused by hyperthermia. 
