Exxon Fraud Case Begins

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According to The Earth Island Journal, New York prosecutors working for then-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued their first subpoenas in 2015 to Exxon, claiming that the oil giant used two sets of books and misled investors by downplaying the potential costs of carbon emissions. Next week, the case is actually coming to trial.

Questions:

  1. Is this a criminal or civil case and what is the difference?
  2. According to the article, what did the two sets of books hide in terms of dollars?
  3. Why does a lawyer from the Center for International Environmental Law expect to see more of these type lawsuits?
  4. In order to prevail, what will prosecutors have to prove?

Source:

Kusnetz, N. (2019). Exxon Climate Fraud Case Set to Start in New York Next Week. Earth Island Journal, Oct. 18 (Retrievable online at http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/exxon-climate-fraud-case-oil-sands-new-york)