Environmental Science
Standing to Sue in Environmental Law Cases
Quick fact
In the 1992 case Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, the Supreme Court denied standing to environmental groups because they could not prove a 'concrete' injury—the plaintiffs had only planned to visit the endangered species' habitat in the future, which the Court deemed too speculative.
Why this is interesting
You see a polluted river, but can you sue the company that poisoned it? Surprisingly, the answer often depends not on the harm, but on whether you have 'standing' to bring the case to court.