Exxon Valdez 18 Years and Counting

A Montgomery County jury returned a verdict in December 2000, finding that Exxon defrauded Alabama on royalties from natural gas wells in state waters. The jury awarded the state $87.7 million in compensatory damages and $3.42 billion in punitive damages (Athan Manuel, 2007). 3.42 billion in punitive damages awarded in the Alabama case is virtually 1 billion more than the award set by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for us Plaintiff's in the Exxon Valdez and this was for stealing oil. How can it be that we the plaintiff's of the Exxon Valdez, rate below theft? Does stealing outweigh the destruction of human lives, cultural traditions, financial means, land, sea life, and other animals? One would believe so based solely on this case. Given the facts there is just no word for me to describe how offensive and nauseating this is.