It’s always about following the money.
A prominent climate plaintiff law firm, Sher Edling, donated to the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) before the midterm elections.
Sher Edling made a $25,000 donation to DAGA on Sept. 15th, according to IRS records obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Given Sher Edling’s financial stake in being awarded contracts related to climate litigation, the recent donation raises concern over a potential conflict of interest between newly elected Democratic AGs and Sher Edling.
Sher Edling has a history of being awarded contracts by Democratic attorneys general to sue oil companies on behalf of the state. Furthermore, Sher Edling operates via contingency fees, meaning the company takes a percentage of money from successful lawsuits.
Sher Edling is the same law firm that shares multiple donors and advisors with Climate Judiciary Project (CJP). The San Francisco-based law firm behind more than two dozen climate lawsuits against energy companies in an obvious effort to shut down the U.S.’s energy sector.
Here’s what it boils down to: Sher Edling stands to make tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in contingency fees if these climate lawsuits succeed. At the same time, one of its lawyers helped shape a science guide for judges—without telling anyone about the firm’s stake in the cases—before the chapter was pulled. It’s less about neutral education and more about a business model that benefits the firm.
Sher Edling receives contracts for climate litigation that function as kickbacks, while helping ensure Democrats get elected. This clear conflict of interest warrants a thorough investigation and for the firm and its related groups to be shut down.
