Nate Raymond and Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A Federal Appeals Court rejected Tuesday’s application Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: )’s attempt to prevent Massachusetts and New York being able to investigate whether investors or the public were misled by the oil company about its knowledge of climate change.

The U.S. 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Manhattan ruled Exxon couldn’t sue Massachusetts’ AttorneyGeneral MauraHealey in federal courts because the case was being pursued in Massachusetts state court.

Exxon also stated that the federal lawsuit she filed against New York Attorney-General Letitia James against Exxon was moot because a December 2019 state judge dismissed her suit against Exxon following a nonjury trial. She did not appeal.

Exxon said that it should keep its federal claims because Healey’s viewpoint bias violated the First Amendment’s constitutional freedom of speech rights. James defended her office and was free to file a new lawsuit.

Following subpoenas for information about the company’s understanding of climate change, and its communications with shareholders in New York and Massachusetts, it sued New York and Massachusetts. This appeal was made after the dismissal in March 2018 of this case.

Exxon and its lawyers did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment. James’ and Healey’s offices didn’t immediately respond to similar inquiries.

Exxon was sued numerous times over recent years for allegedly downplaying the impact of its fossil fuel products on climate change. This is to gain public support, increase profit, and boost its stock price.

Irving, Texas-based Climate Change Solutions has always maintained climate risk risks as real and wants to help.

In March 9, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was neutral to Exxon’s claims that Healey had illegally suppressed its speech.

Exxon Mobil Corp v Healey et al., 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals No. 18-1170.