EXXON and its subsidiary, Exxon Shipping, are seeking a new trial in the Exxon Valdez oil spill case. Exxon claims that parts of the case arising from the massive oil spill in 1989 must be retried because the jury was prevented from giving Exxon fair consideration.
A year ago, the jury found Exxon and Joseph Hazelwood, the ship鈥檚 captain, guilty of recklessness and decided that Exxon should pay $5.3 billion in punitive damages.
The company argues that some jurors may have been coerced into agreeing to the award for damages, and that some jurors knew of Hazelwood鈥檚 history of drinking problems, which had been ruled inadmissible in the trial.
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Lawyers representing those who suffered damage in the spill have until the end of this week to prepare written counter-arguments, after which a judge will rule on Exxon鈥檚 request. One of the lawyers, Steven Schroer, suggests that Exxon鈥檚 action may be a delaying tactic. 鈥淭he longer they can avoid paying and the longer they can avoid interest accruing, the more money there is in their own pocket,鈥� he says.