Supreme Court Slashes Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Fine to One-Tenth of Original $5 Billion Ruling

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/6/26/supreme_court_slashes_exxon_valdez_oil

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The Supreme Court handed corporate America a major victory this week when it sharply reduced the amount of money Exxon Mobil has to pay in punitive damages for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. An Alaskan jury had initially ruled Exxon should pay five billion dollars in punitive damages but in 2006, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court cut the award of punitive damages in half. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court cut the amount of punitive damages again and ordered Exxon Mobil to pay just $500 million in punitive damages – one tenth of the original jury’s ruling.



The Supreme Court handed corporate America a major victory Wednesday when it sharply reduced the amount of money Exxon Mobil has to pay in punitive damages for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

The spill has been described as the worst environmental calamity in U.S. history. 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the fishing waters of Prince William Sound. It polluted about 1200 miles of Alaska’s shoreline.

An Alaskan jury had initially ruled Exxon should pay five billion dollars in punitive damages but in 2006, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court cut the award of punitive damages in half.

On Wednesday the Supreme Court cut the amount of punitive damages again and ordered Exxon Mobil to pay just $500 million in punitive damages – 1/10th of the original jury’s ruling.

The Supreme Court ruled that in maritime cases punitive damages should be no more than the actual damages. 32,000 Alaskan plaintiffs have been waiting for their compensation since 1994. The Supreme Court’s action will reduce the average award from $75,000 to about $15,000.

Last year Exxon Mobil made just over $40 billion in profits. This means the oil company will be able to pay the punitive damages in about four days. Sen. Patrick Leahy, chair of the Judiciary Committee, accused the court of giving Exxon Mobil a $2 billion windfall.

John Passacantando, executive director of Greenpeace USA, joins us in Washington.

John Passacantando, executive director of Greenpeace USA.

Maybe we could hope that God raptures at least 5 of them next year.

We knew all along voting for Roberts and Alito to the US Supreme Court would do for Corporate America....and those Dems who voted for them must be reminded of their votes everyday.

they won't pay a dime of it anyway. Besides they own America anyhow it seems. They sure have most of us by the shorties.

in the case because he owns Exxon stock.

we all know he or his clerks were involved, or influencing the deliberation of others in the court.

How so?