Judge tosses Bucks lawsuit against oil giants – Bucks Round-Up – May 20, 2025
Judge tosses Bucks County’s climate lawsuit against oil giants
A high-profile lawsuit filed by the Bucks County Commissioners against major oil and gas companies has been dismissed. In a decision issued Friday, Judge Stephen Corr of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas ruled the case was outside the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania state courts. The lawsuit accused fossil fuel producers of knowingly contributing to climate change, citing internal industry research from the 1950s.
But the court wasn’t just skeptical of the legal argument. Judge Corr sharply criticized how the case was authorized — through a consent agenda, effectively avoiding public discussion. He said that move violated the spirit, if not the letter, of Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act, which requires transparency in government decision-making. The lawsuit was championed by Board of Commissioners Chair Bob Harvie, a Democrat, who had previously cited decades-old oil industry data as evidence of corporate culpability.
Primary Day brings local races to the forefront
Voters across Bucks County are heading to the polls today, with sites open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. According to Chief Clerk Gail Humphrey, there are 304 voting locations across the county, with a majority situated in Lower Bucks. Voters can confirm their polling places by visiting the Board of Elections page on BucksCounty.gov.
Today’s primary features races for county row offices, judicial candidates, and numerous local contests — including school board and mayoral seats that could significantly impact community governance. Turnout will be closely watched, particularly in areas where education and public safety have emerged as hot-button issues.
Bristol Borough mayoral race centers on police staffing
In one of the more contentious local races, public safety has become the flashpoint issue in the Bristol Borough mayoral primary. Fran Parenteau, a retired district judge and former borough police chief, is challenging incumbent Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III. On WBCB’s Speak Your Piece, Parenteau criticized the current administration’s handling of police staffing, claiming that budget mismanagement is leading to excessive overtime.
Mayor DiGuiseppe and Police Chief Joe Moors pushed back at the most recent council meeting, denying that any officer is required to work overtime. Chief Moors cited the borough’s collective bargaining agreement, which allows officers to accept or decline overtime shifts at their discretion.
Joe LeCompte hosts “LeCompte in the Morning” on WBCB 1490.
