Your Supreme Court in Action

Kris Weberg | February 28, 2008
Remember the Exxon Valdez spill? It's still going in litigation.

Exxon Mobil, the giant oil corporation appearing before the Supreme Court yesterday, had earned a profit of nearly $40 billion in 2006, the largest ever reported by a U.S. company -- but that's not what bothered Roberts. What bothered the chief justice was that Exxon was being ordered to pay $2.5 billion -- roughly three weeks' worth of profits -- for destroying a long swath of the Alaska coastline in the largest oil spill in American history.

"So what can a corporation do to protect itself against punitive-damages awards such as this?" Roberts asked in court.

The lawyer arguing for the Alaska fishermen affected by the spill, Jeffrey Fisher, had an idea. "Well," he said, "it can hire fit and competent people."

The rare sound of laughter rippled through the august chamber. The chief justice did not look amused.

Amy Austin | February 28, 2008
Ah, yes... good old-fashioned crony capitalism in action... at the legislative level. It's a beautiful thing.

Boy, does this article come at a sore time for me -- I ran out of oil (before bedtime) last night and will be sticking out a very cold night tonight to await delivery. Yes, I could have paid $25 extra to have it delivered today (even though I called for it at the beginning of the day!), but that just pisses me off even more when combined with the fact that I could have saved myself that, plus another $50, if only I had ordered it 2 weeks ago instead. (In case no one else has noticed or heard about it, oil prices have shot up again to the high of the year.)

On the (very small) upside, the last 100 gallons lasted me through the three coldest months of the year, which bodes well for this next overpriced delivery.

Anna Gregoline | February 28, 2008
It's shameful that they weren't ordered to pay more. 3 weeks of profits is nothing in the face of the environmental destruction they are responsible for. It disgusts me.