"Oil Companies Are Sued Over Death of Woman in 2021 Heat Wave" Article Reflection No. 139 (6/1/2025)

Article: “Oil Companies Are Sued Over Death of Woman in 2021 Heat Wave”

Reflection:

In the article “Oil Companies Are Sued Over Death of Woman in 2021 Heat Wave,” journalist David Gelles discusses an unprecedented lawsuit against fossil fuel corporations following the death of Misti Leon, who passed away in 2021 due to a heat wave that plaintiff(s) say was exacerbated by these companies who knowingly manufactured items that contributed to a warming planet. 

Since this type of legal case is unprecedented, this article provides a glimpse into the escalating tensions between fossil fuel companies and those who are frustrated about the exacerbated natural disasters that a warming planet brings. The grave impact that fossil fuel companies have on the health of our planet and, in turn, the health of the people is so alarming and this article shows an attempt to respond to that alarm. I felt relieved when an interviewed expert in the article, former federal prosecutor Cindo Cho, said that the case had a “‘reasonable framework for a complaint’” because before I read that I honestly didn’t know how feasible a case like that would be—especially since these corporations are so powerful.