Federal Judge: Automakers Cannot Block R.I. Emission Rules

Automakers cannot sue to block Rhode Island from enforcing tighter tailpipe emissions standards first adopted by California because the industry has already lost similar lawsuits elsewhere, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Ernest Torres dismissed General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and two automakers associations from the case, but his ruling permits several local car dealers to pursue the lawsuit for now.