Case: People of the State of Michigan v. BP P.L.C.

1:26-cv-00254 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Filed Date: Jan. 23, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case is an antitrust action that alleges that Exxon, Chevron, BP, and Shell have engaged in a decades-long coordinated strategy to suppress competition from renewable energy. The State of Michigan brought this antitrust lawsuit on January 23, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan against several major fossil fuel companies, Exxon, Chevron, BP and Shell (the "Fossil Fuel Defendants"), and their trade association, the American Petroleum Institute (API). The plaint…

This case is an antitrust action that alleges that Exxon, Chevron, BP, and Shell have engaged in a decades-long coordinated strategy to suppress competition from renewable energy.

The State of Michigan brought this antitrust lawsuit on January 23, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan against several major fossil fuel companies, Exxon, Chevron, BP and Shell (the "Fossil Fuel Defendants"), and their trade association, the American Petroleum Institute (API). The plaintiff alleged that the defendants conspired to restrain competition from renewable energy for decades, unlawfully delaying the transition away from fossil fuels and inflating energy prices for Michigan consumers. The complaint outlines several allegations against the defendants, including that they have conspired to reduce the innovation and output of renewable energy substitutes to maintain their dominance in the energy market, despite being aware that fossil fuel use would cause destructive climate impacts since the 1970s, that they used aggressive patent litigation to suppress electric vehicle technologies, that they acted to stifle solar energy technology and divert capital toward initiatives that entrench fossil fuels, and that they orchestrated a disinformation campaign to manufacture doubt about climate science and the viability of clean energy. Finally, the complaint alleged that the defendants engaged in criminal hacking and "hack-for-hire" operations to surveil and intimidate activists, watchdogs, and public officials seeking to investigate the cartel's conduct. But for this conspiracy, the State argues that renewable primary energy would have reached scale years earlier, and that because of the defendants' conduct, Michigan consumers have been denied meaningful choice and have been forced to pay supracompetitive prices for energy. The State alleged that the defendants' conduct constituted a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, Sections 4 and 16 of the Clayton Act, and the Michigan Antitrust Reform Act. The State sought damages for overcharges and harms suffered by the State and its residents, permanent injunction relief to end the anticompetitive conduct, disgorgement of all profits obtained through the conspiracy, and equitable relief.

This case was originally assigned to District Judge Paul L. Maroney. However, on January 28, 2026, Judge Maroney recused himself due to a potential conflict, and the case was reassigned to District Judge Jane Marie Beckering.

On January 23, 2026, the State notified the court that United States v. Michigan, Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-496 is potentially related to this case, as it arose from the same or similar occurrences and involves one or more of the same parties.

On January 26, 2026, the defendants responded to the plaintiff's notice of related cases. The defendants notified the court that on January 24, United States v. Michigan was dismissed in its entirety for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

This case is ongoing

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Summary Authors

Sofia Yoder (2/21/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72179920/parties/people-of-the-state-of-michigan-v-bp-plc/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Asciolla, Gregory S. (Michigan)

Beran, Katie (Michigan)

Bettenhausen, Margaret (Michigan)

Blake, Emma (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Allen, Matthew Philip (Michigan)

Judge(s)

Maloney, Paul Lewis (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Asciolla, Gregory S. (Michigan)

Beran, Katie (Michigan)

Bettenhausen, Margaret (Michigan)

Blake, Emma (Michigan)

Campbell, Ashley B. (Michigan)

Crevier, Jonathan S. (Michigan)

Edling, Matthew Kendall (Michigan)

Gotz, James (Michigan)

Kelly, Timothy Lockwood (Michigan)

Madiraju, Kartik (Michigan)

Martin, Scott (Michigan)

Morrisseau, Elizabeth Anne (Michigan)

Syme, Carrie A (Michigan)

Synk, Polly A. (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Allen, Matthew Philip (Michigan)

Cranmer, Thomas W. (Michigan)

Denton, Charles M. (Michigan)

Fauson, Joel S. (Michigan)

Lindstrom, Aaron David (Michigan)

Schehr, Thomas M. (Michigan)

Schlegelmilch, Stephan J. (Michigan)

Schmalzbach, Brian David (Michigan)

Watson, Scott Michael (Michigan)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-00254	Complaint The People of the State of Michigan v. BP P.L.C.	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72179920/people-of-the-state-of-michigan-v-bp-plc/

Last updated March 16, 2026, 3:09 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT with jury trial demand against All Defendants filed by People of the State of Michigan (Attachments: # 1 Summons) (Synk, Polly) Modified text on 1/26/2026 (mlc) (Entered: 01/23/2026) 1 Summons Summons View on PACER	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	NOTICE re 1 Notice of Related Case by plaintiff People of the State of Michigan, The (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order Proposed Order) (Synk, Polly) (Entered: 01/23/2026) 1 Proposed Order Proposed Order View on PACER	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026 RECAP
3	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by plaintiff People of the State of Michigan, The re complaint 1, Notice (Other) 2 (Synk, Polly) (Entered: 01/23/2026)	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026
	Filing Fee (Civil Case) - Credit Card Payment	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026
	FILING FEE PAID re 1 by plaintiff People of the State of Michigan, The in the amount of $405, receipt number AMIWDC-7960789 (Synk, Polly)	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Elizabeth Anne Morrisseau on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan, The (Morrisseau, Elizabeth)	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Margaret Bettenhausen on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan, The (Bettenhausen, Margaret)	Jan. 23, 2026	Jan. 23, 2026
4	RESPONSE TO Plaintiff's Notice of Related Case filed by defendants Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Opinion and Order) (Allen, Matthew) (Entered: 01/26/2026) 1 Exhibit A - Opinion and Order View on PACER	Jan. 26, 2026	Jan. 26, 2026 RECAP
6	NOTICE that this case has been assigned to Paul L. Maloney (mlc) (Entered: 01/26/2026)	Jan. 26, 2026	Jan. 26, 2026
7	SUMMONS ISSUED as to defendants American Petroleum Institute, BP America Inc., BP Energy Company, BP Energy Retail Company LLC, BP P.L.C., BP Products North America Inc., Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Equilon Enterprises LLC, Exxon Mobil Corporation, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, Shell Oil Products Company LLC, Shell P.L.C., Shell Trading (US) Company, Shell USA, Inc. (mlc) (Entered: 01/26/2026)	Jan. 26, 2026	Jan. 26, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Matthew Philip Allen on behalf of defendants Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Limited to Filing a Response to Plaintiff's Notice of Related Case (Allen, Matthew)	Jan. 26, 2026	Jan. 26, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Thomas W. Cranmer on behalf of defendants Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Limited to Filing a Response to Plaintiff's Notice of Related Case (Cranmer, Thomas)	Jan. 26, 2026	Jan. 26, 2026
8	ORDER OF RECUSAL: District Judge Paul L. Maloney recused from this case; case to be reassigned; signed by District Judge Paul L. Maloney (Judge Paul L. Maloney, acr) (Entered: 01/28/2026)	Jan. 28, 2026	Jan. 28, 2026 RECAP
9	NOTICE that this case is reassigned to District Judge Jane M. Beckering for all further proceedings pursuant to Order 8 by Judge Paul L. Maloney ; Judge Paul L. Maloney no longer assigned to the case (mlc) (Entered: 01/28/2026)	Jan. 28, 2026	Jan. 28, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of James Gotz on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Gotz, James)	Feb. 12, 2026	Feb. 12, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Matthew Kendall Edling on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Edling, Matthew)	Feb. 12, 2026	Feb. 12, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Ashley B. Campbell on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Campbell, Ashley)	Feb. 12, 2026	Feb. 12, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Gregory S. Asciolla on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Asciolla, Gregory)	Feb. 13, 2026	Feb. 13, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Jonathan S. Crevier on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Crevier, Jonathan)	Feb. 13, 2026	Feb. 13, 2026
10	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Exxon Mobil Corporation, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (Denton, Charles) (Entered: 02/18/2026)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Kartik Madiraju on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Madiraju, Kartik)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Carrie A Syme on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Syme, Carrie)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Charles M. Denton on behalf of defendants Exxon Mobil Corporation, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (Denton, Charles)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Scott Michael Watson on behalf of defendants Exxon Mobil Corporation, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (Watson, Scott)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Aaron David Lindstrom on behalf of defendants Exxon Mobil Corporation, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (Lindstrom, Aaron)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Stephan J. Schlegelmilch on behalf of defendants Equilon Enterprises, LLC, Shell Oil Products Company, LLC, Shell Trading (US) Company, Shell USA, Inc., Shell, P.L.C. (Schlegelmilch, Stephan)	Feb. 18, 2026	Feb. 18, 2026
11	PROPOSED STIPULATION and ORDER regarding Service and Briefing Schedule by defendants Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (Allen, Matthew) (Entered: 02/19/2026)	Feb. 19, 2026	Feb. 19, 2026 RECAP
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Joel S. Fauson on behalf of defendant American Petroleum Institute (Fauson, Joel)	Feb. 19, 2026	Feb. 19, 2026
12	ORDER that Defendants Chevron Corporation, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Shell P.L.C., Shell USA, Inc., Shell Oil Products Company LLC, Equilon Enterprises LLC, Shell Trading (US) Company, and American Petroleum Institute file a corporate disclosure statement within 7 days; signed by District Judge Jane M. Beckering (rmw) (Entered: 02/20/2026)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
13	ORDER granting proposed stipulated order regarding service and briefing schedule 11 ; signed by District Judge Jane M. Beckering (rmw) (Entered: 02/20/2026)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026 RECAP
14	ORDER that Defendants BP P.L.C., BP America Inc., BP Energy Company, BP Energy Retail Company LLC, and BP Products North America Inc. file a corporate disclosure statement within 7 days; signed by District Judge Jane M. Beckering (rmw) (Entered: 02/20/2026)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Brian David Schmalzbach on behalf of defendant American Petroleum Institute (Schmalzbach, Brian)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Scott Martin on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Martin, Scott)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Emma Blake on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Blake, Emma)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Katie Beran on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Beran, Katie)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Timothy Lockwood Kelly on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Kelly, Timothy)	Feb. 20, 2026	Feb. 20, 2026
15	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by American Petroleum Institute (Fauson, Joel) (Entered: 02/26/2026)	Feb. 26, 2026	Feb. 26, 2026
16	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Shell, P.L.C. (Schlegelmilch, Stephan) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
17	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Shell USA, Inc. identifying Corporate Parent Shell Petroleum Inc., Other Affiliate Shell P.L.C., Other Affiliate Shell Petroleum B.V., Other Affiliate Shell Group Holding Limited for Shell USA, Inc. (Schlegelmilch, Stephan) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
18	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Shell Oil Products Company, LLC identifying Corporate Parent Shell P.L.C. for Shell Oil Products Company, LLC (Schlegelmilch, Stephan) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
19	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Equilon Enterprises, LLC identifying Corporate Parent Shell P.L.C. for Equilon Enterprises, LLC (Schlegelmilch, Stephan) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
20	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Shell Trading (US) Company identifying Corporate Parent Shell, P.L.C. for Shell Trading (US) Company (Schlegelmilch, Stephan) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
21	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT identifying indirect subsidiary of Chevron Corporation by Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (Cranmer, Thomas) Modified text on 3/2/2026 (mlc) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
22	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Chevron Corporation (Cranmer, Thomas) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
23	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by BP, P.L.C. (Pepperman, Richard) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
24	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by BP America, Inc. identifying Corporate Parent BP, P.L.C., BP America Limited, BP Holdings North America Limited for BP America, Inc. (Pepperman, Richard) Modified text on 3/2/2026 (mlc) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
25	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by BP Products North America, Inc. identifying Corporate Parent BP, P.L.C., BP America, Inc., BP America Limited, BP Holdings North America Limited, The Standard Oil Company, BP Company North America, Inc., BP Corporation North America, Inc. for BP Products North America, Inc. (Pepperman, Richard) Modified text on 3/2/2026 (mlc) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
26	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT identifying Corporate Parent BP, P.L.C., BP Company North America, Inc., BP Corporation North America, Inc., BP America Inc., BP America Limited, BP Holdings North America Limited by BP Energy Company (Pepperman, Richard) Modified text on 3/2/2026 (mlc) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
27	CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT identifying Corporate Parent BP, P.L.C., BP Energy Holding Company, LLC, BP Company North America, Inc., BP Corporation North America, Inc., BP America Inc., BP America Limited, BP Holdings North America Limited by BP Energy Retail Company, LLC (Pepperman, Richard) Modified text on 3/2/2026 (mlc) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Richard C. Pepperman, II on behalf of defendants BP America, Inc., BP Energy Company, BP Energy Retail Company, LLC, BP Products North America, Inc., BP, P.L.C. (Pepperman, Richard)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Amanda F. Davidoff on behalf of defendants BP America, Inc., BP Energy Company, BP Energy Retail Company, LLC, BP Products North America, Inc., BP, P.L.C. (Davidoff, Amanda)	Feb. 27, 2026	Feb. 27, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Daniel R. Flynn on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Flynn, Daniel)	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Anna C Skinner on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Skinner, Anna)	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of James Crisafulli on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Crisafulli, James)	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026
	(NON-DOCUMENT) ATTORNEY APPEARANCE of Elizabeth Claire Carpenter, I on behalf of plaintiff People of the State of Michigan (Carpenter, Elizabeth)	March 12, 2026	March 12, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Michigan

Case Type(s):

Environmental Justice

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Miscellaneous

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 23, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The State of Michigan

Plaintiff Type(s):

State Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Private Entity/Person

AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE,

BP P.L.C

CHEVRON CORPORATION

EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION

SHELL P.L.C.

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Other Dockets:

Western District of Michigan 1:26-cv-00254

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Environmental Justice and Resources:

Petroleum and petroleum byproducts

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of People of the State of Michigan v. BP P.L.C., Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47759/ (last updated 2/21/2026).