FRANCE won damages of $120 million (about Pounds sterling 72 million)
against the American oil company Amoco last week after a long-running battle.
Twelve years after its tanker Amoco Cadiz broke apart and deluged the Brittany
beaches (see above) with 220 000 tonnes of oil, Amoco must pay, a judged
ruled in Chicago. Amoco鈥檚 attorneys say they will appeal, but in 1988, a
judge decided that Amoco was liable for $85.2 million in damages. Both sides
appealed, leading to last week鈥檚 decision to increase the award by almost
50 per cent.
French citizens who sued Amoco argued that the company was negligent
in not fixing Amoco Cadiz鈥檚 chronic steering problems. Amoco blamed the
Spanish company that designed the ship, Astilleros Espanoles. So far, only
Amoco has been held accountable.