California sues 6 carmakers over greenhouse gases

Yahoo!Finance ^ | 9/20/2006 | Reuters

[eraser2005]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California filed suit against Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - News), General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - News), Toyota Motor Corp. (Tokyo:7203.T - News) and three other carmakers on Wednesday, charging that greenhouse gases from their vehicles have cost the state millions of dollars.

[eraser2005]

This is absolutely absurd. If the emissions met California's regulations, there should be no lawsuit.

[Disambiguator]

In principle, these lawsuits are no different from the lawsuits filed against gun manufacturers for "causing crime".

[pierrem15]

It doesn't matter: the Left has learned well that it can get the courts to force the policy changes it wants (and enrich its litigator contributors) without going through the incovenience of actually winning an election.

The automakers should refuse to ship any spare parts to the state.

I am really beginning to think that the only way this s--- is going to stop is by force.

[grb]

Easy solution. Don't sell cars in California, but I know states like Connecticut (my state) will soon follow.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

This is absolutely absurd. If the emissions met California's regulations, there should be no lawsuit.

If I were the CEO of a company named in this suit, I would start terminating all business operations in the state immediately, to include fleet sales and service contract renewals not completed.

I would then demand an unreasonable sum of money--payable annually--from the state government to resume operations.

[tcrlaf]

And Dems can't figure out how 40+ years of Liberalism has out-forced our industry overseas????

[longtermmemmory]

This is tobacco suits.

What next, sue property owners for "causing dirt"?

[rhombus]

Even the saintly Toyota? hah!

[xcamel]

And the extortion begins/continues...

[The South Texan]

"Easy solution. Don't sell cars in California, but I know states like Connecticut (my state) will soon follow"

Easier would be to move all of your jobs out of California. Let them try to eat cake then.

[absolootezer0]

i've been waiting for this since tobacco and gun makers have been sued.
so now, what kind of cars does the state government use?

[edcoil]

Well, Arnold is allowing this. Nothing new here folks.

[scott7278]

This is what it's all about.

[azhenfud]

What lawsuits have done to the aviation industry is about to occur to the automotive industry if not stopped NOW.

It'll get to where 2/3 of the price of an auto will be to cover lawsuits and a stripped-down model $20,000 auto will cost the consumer $60-80k.

IMO, if the autos met federal emmission standards at the time of sale, the state should be told "Go get screwn".

[SMM48]

And the extortion begins/continues...

They found a new way to help balance the budget.

[Rennes Templar]

The state should sue all the drivers of the vehicles. It is a well-known fact that non-driven vehicles don't pollute.

I had to check the source of this to make sure it wasn't from Scrappleface.

[Magnum44]

Seems like a misuse of tax payer funds by the state to pursue this.

[longtermmemmory]

that is what they want.

The tried to do this with guns, now the envirowackos are doing this with cars.

of course who will sell them the busses? China?

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Stupidity, I think, has just been redefined. This is like your liver suing your pancreas because it enables you to drink too much coffee.

[mallardx]

I think CA is about to go under due to chronic mismanagement - and that Arnold is too weak (and too leftist) a Governor to prevent the inevitable. Is it still true the LA police cannot even enter neighborhoods in LA, due to the dangers of the gangs?

[HoosierHawk]

Bingo!

[azhenfud]

Indeed. Who, but the Chief Executive Officer of the state, has the authority to see such asinine litigation remain alive or stop it? Arnold Shortsneaker needs to terminate this ASAP and fire the idiots who dreamed the crap up.

Elsewise Califoreigners will pay an extreme price for their rides.

[doc30]

Market doesn't seem phased by the lawsuit. Automaker stocks are up right now.

[phalynx]

Doesn't CA have an emissions test? If a vehicle passes by their standards, doesn't the state then approve of the quantity of emissions? I think I would counter sue. CA is responsible for stupid lawsuits.

[Spktyr]

Exactly. But since CA keeps being unreasonable, all the car makers should pull out and stop selling cars there. It'll be cheaper in the short and long run.

[mugs99]

Is it still true the LA police cannot even enter neighborhoods in LA, due to the dangers of the gangs?
They're too busy enforcing the helmet and seat belt laws to go after the gangs.
.

[P-40]

Atlas really needs to start Shrugging...

[Spktyr]

Intriguingly, they're suing the major Japanese and US names, but completely ignoring the big European models - you know, the ones the liberals love to own, like VW and BMW.

They're suing Ford, GM, Toyota, Chrysler (but not Mercedes by name), Honda and Nissan. Apparently, Lockyer (CA Atty Gen) is doing so to get back at them for tying up the new CA mandated greenhouse gas emissions standards in court.

[beltfed308]

But since CA keeps being unreasonable, all the car makers should pull out and stop selling cars there.

I sure would love to see that happen. A good dose of reality works on most sane people. But then again we are talking CA.

[azhenfud]

"If the emissions met California's regulations, there should be no lawsuit."

The state set the standards, now wants to sue because their own standards weren't sufficient. Set the rules then bitch! LMAO at Califoreignia! I think that's what will eventually acquit the automakers (barring insanity from the 9th Circuit), yet the damage will be done - the court case will earn lawyers millions in fees funded by taxpayers from all over.

Lawyers are a specie lower than the most detestable scum that ever oozed from a primordial cesspool.

[TexasCajun]

Automakers should just leave Kalifornia and let them ride horses or walk!

[azhenfud]

Yeah. In fact, Califoreignia set their own "INNOVATIVE" rules then commences to bitch about them... LMAO!

[Shermy]

"Well, Arnold is allowing this."

He gave the AOK to the global warming thesis, this followed.

[azhenfud]

"Automaker stocks are up right now.." with traders expecting automakers to successfully counter sue Califoreignia for defamation.

[Charles Martel]

Intriguingly, they're suing the major Japanese and US names, but completely ignoring the big European models - you know, the ones the liberals love to own, like VW and BMW.

Evidently, the liberals don't know what the BMW blue & white "roundel" is said to represent.

[Constitution Day]

The California ARB is evil.

[G Larry]

No, the manufacturers should stop doing ANY BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA!!

[The Electrician]

Time for Atlas to Shrug...

[pepperdog]

No tobacco, no guns, no cars....wonder what's next?

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Given the amount of oral flatulence emanating from Sacramento you would think that a little smog from cars would be the least of California's problems.

[absolootezer0]

No tobacco, no guns, no cars....wonder what's next?

no sex?

[pepperdog]

Hey, that's the answer! Then there will be no people born to cause future pollution. You are brilliant!

[NilesJo]

Attorney General Bill Lockyer (A UC Berkeley alumnus) is running for California State Treasurer in November - isn't it odd that he would start such litigation at this late date? No, its because this inane, opportunistic SOB is just a Democratic political incumbent misusing the power of his office to secure high visibility in the public eye (and particularly to the greens) just before election time.

If the voters of California elect this leftist idiot the state will just continue to lose business as it proceeds on its downward spiral.

[DustyMoment]

This isn't for the state of California or "the people" - it's just a phony affair designed to line lawyers pockets.

What a bunch of BS!!

[Proud_USA_Republican]

oh, great. More californians will be moving to Seattle soon and median home prices will increase another 250 thousand and liberal democrats will be voted into every government office in greater numbers.

Lovely.......

[GOP_1900AD]

Good job Arnie, making this place even more pro-business / sarc

[ArtyFO]

The idiots have targeted the wrong defendants. They should have sued the oil industry. It's their product doing all the damage to the ozone layer. Besides, they have deeper pockets.

[DustyMoment]

If I were the CEO of a company named in this suit, I would start terminating all business operations in the state immediately, to include fleet sales and service contract renewals not completed.

Californians can get around on Segways in the interim. They're only about $5k - $7k a pop!!

[Polyxene]

No tobacco, no guns, no cars....wonder what's next?

Farmers -- for cow flatulence!