JOLIET — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow have filed a joint lawsuit and are seeking a preliminary injunction against ExxonMobil for an Oct. 19 incident in which the company's refinery released oil in its surrounding area in Channahon Township.

Scott Mulford, Madigan's spokesman, said the lawsuit was filed jointly Wednesday on the basis of potential environmental outcomes.

"The severity of the situation and the allegations of environmental harm that the release of the substance caused was obviously one of the guiding factors in bringing the lawsuit," he said.