Supreme Court agrees to review Exxon Valdez damages

[underpants]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court on Monday stepped into the long-running battle over the $2.5 billion in punitive damages owed by Exxon Mobil Corp. for the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.
Eleven millions gallons of oil spilled into Alaska's Prince William Sound when the supertanker ran aground on a reef. A federal appeals court already had cut in half the $5 billion in damages awarded by a jury in 1994.

The justices said they would consider whether the company should have to pay any punitive damages at all. If the court decides some money is due, Exxon is arguing that $2.5 billion is excessive under laws governing shipping and prior high court decisions limiting punitive damages.


The case probably will be heard in the spring. The court's last ruling on punitive damages, in February, set aside a nearly $80 million judgment against Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris USA. The money was awarded to the widow of a smoker in Oregon.



Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_7311863

[sam sarrha]

1. will that include the people they poisoned during the clean up with deadly toxic chemicals

http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2003/03/ma_286_01.html

[acmavm]

2. Well Alaska, kiss that money good-bye. You'll end up footing

the entire bill for this clean-up yet.

[Demeter]

3. That's Got to Be A Clear Conflict Of Interest

If the Supremes have even one share in Exxon, they had better recuse themselves.

[Javaman]

4. sometimes I wonder if senator stevens has anything to do with this..

since he is friends with big oil.

[ClintonTyree]

5. Almost 20 years.....

and they're STILL litigating this? :wtf:

The next time I see one of those Exxon Mobil commercials, telling me how conscious they are of the environment, I think I'll throw a brick at the TV. :grr:

[underpants]

6. They are hard up for the money....man

they only make $40 Billion a quarter ...man

[Bandit]

9. That is NET PROFIT and it is equal to OVER One Hundred Million a Day

Every single day seven days a week, fifty two weeks a year, year after year...And they are seeking incentives from the State of Alaska for exploration and Development of new fields..One Hundred Million Dollars a Fucking DAYEvery single day...year after year...

[Naipes]

7. Any bets as to the outcome?

This is disgusting. Like the previous post, it's 20 years later and they're still litigating. UGH.

[Gman]

8. Deep pockets win every time

[Betty]

10. well we can all see where this is going

the "supreme" court... the best friend of big business. While they take away more and more of the little people's rights.

[defendandprotect]

11. Has all this reversal come without some kind of a payoff for the Supremes -- ????

[Peace Patriot]

12. After we restore transparent vote counting--and overthrow these goddamned

electronic voting machines, run on 'TRADE SECRET,' PROPRIETARY programming code, owned and controlled by rightwing Bushite corporations--one of the next things we need to do is fire the Supreme Court.

And don't be intimidated by those who say we can't, because we CAN.