Maritime Accident News

Alaska says punitive damages are warranted in Valdez oil spill

A brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court says Exxon violated a social contract it had entered into with the state of Alaska when the tanker Exxon Valdez hit a reef in Prince William Sound in 1989 and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil.

Thus the oil company should be subject to punitive damages for the environmental catastrophe, state lawmakers and four former governors said in their friend-of-the-court brief.

The high court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Exxon's appeal on Feb. 27.

"Punitive damages are appropriate here because Exxon acted recklessly and violated its solemn vow to the people of Alaska to protect Alaska's marine ecology and marine-based economy," the brief states.

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