Chevron Corp. has filed a third-party complaint against Norway’s state-owned oil company Statoil, seeking to include it in lawsuits by California cities and counties over global warming.

Chevron describes the lawsuits as a “misguided attempt to blame Chevron’s production and promotion of fossil fuels for global climate change” but says if it’s liable for damages, then Statoil is too. The suits by eight counties and cities... name most but not all of the world’s leading oil and gas producers.

...Statoil was not immediately available for comment.

...Chevron cites the Tennessee Valley Authority’s argument in American Electric Power v. Connecticut, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected state lawsuits against corporations over global warming...California’s nuisance theory “could provide virtually every person, organization, company, or government with a claim against virtually every other person, organization, company or government, presenting unique and difficult challenges for the federal courts,” the TVA said in that case.

Chevron said it may be looking for more companies to drag into the cases.