Supreme Court to Hear Exxon Valdez Case

[deminks]

http://firedoglake.com/2008/02/27/supreme-court-to-hear-exxon-valdez-case/

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court will consider whether to prevent victims of the Exxon Valdez disaster from collecting a $2.5 billion judgment, nearly 19 years after the tanker dumped 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska waters.

In the case being argued Wednesday, Exxon Mobil Corp. wants the court to erase the award of punitive damages to nearly 33,000 commercial fishermen, Native Alaskans, landowners, businesses and local governments.

The 987-foot tanker, commanded by its captain, Joseph Hazelwood, missed a turn and ran aground on a reef in Prince William Sound, causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

(SNIP)

Now Exxon says it should not face any punitive damages because the company already has paid $3.4 billion in fines, penalties, cleanup costs, claims and other expenses.

Justice Samuel Alito, who owns Exxon stock, is not taking part in the case. A 4-4 split would leave the damages award in place.

[napi21]

1. How much do you want to bet Exxon will win this one in the SCOTUS?

I heard a long description of what really happened in that accident by a guest on a talk show yesterday. He described how it never SHOULD have happened because that ship was outfitted with very sophiticated radar which would enable a teenager to steer that ship, BUT it was turned OFF because it was too expensive and Exxon was cutting costs! Then there was this hugh plastic safety shield that was to automatically trigger if the ship hit something and completely surround the ship and contain any spills that would them be able to be pumped out with NO damage to the environment at all, but guess what? I was solded up and kept in some storage place in AK. because THAT cost a lot of money too and Exxon was CUTTING COSTS! He also said Exxon's plan is to drag this out long enough that all the people associated with the incident would be dead!

With out "support business at any cost" SCOTUS, I bet they'll rule in favor of Exxon anyway!

[Auggie]

2. Another reason for the foot dragging could be to have the right court in place

Chimp's done his best to see to that.

[trof]

3. I was at the Coast Guard/DOT hearings in Anchorage.

Wow, 19 years ago and they still haven't coughed up.

I was flying for Nippon Cargo and had a 3 day layover in Anchorage when they held the hearing.

It was in the huge ballroom of the Captain Cook Hotel.
And the place was jammed.
The helmsman, Robert Kagan, who was steering at the time of the incident just had a terrible memory.
Poor guy said so.
"I really have a bad memory."
That about brought the house down. The head whoever had to gavel for order for a long time.
And sure enough, Kagan could hardly remember anything about the incident.
:rofl:

I saw Captain Hazelwood that day too.
And again that night in the bar next to the hotel with a pretty blond on his arm. Coulda been his wife, I guess.
:shrug:

Since he had been accused of drinking on duty, among other things, I was surprised to see him hanging out in a bar next to the hotel where the hearing was taking place.
"Joseph J. Hazelwood, the captain of the ship that has been spilling oil since it ran aground off Alaska last Friday, has been convicted of charges involving drinking and driving twice in the past five years, a period in which his driver's license was suspended or revoked three times."
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE6DA103AF93BA15750C0A96F948260
:eyes: