(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down the $2.5 billion punitive damages award from the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989. the court found that the punitive damage should be caped at $507 million. The ruling was 5-3.
"The Supreme Court’s opinion today is a disappointing and undeserved loss for the tens of thousands of families and business owners who were devastated by the Exxon Valdez disaster.
"Nearly 20 years later, the Northwest’s fisheries and environment are still affected by Exxon’s negligence, and years of legal wrangling shouldn’t allow them to fall short of their responsibility to make amends. Unfortunately, today’s decision allows Exxon to shortchange the people who the spill has hurt the most and sends the wrong message to those who pollute our nation’s waters."
English 
Spanish