The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to review the $2.5 billion punitive damage award levied against Exxon Mobil for its role in the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska 18 years ago.
Exxon Mobil and an array of maritime and other business groups asked the Court to knock down what would otherwise be the highest damage award ever approved by a federal court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last December cut the jury award down from $5 billion. The case before the Court is Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker.
