read about it: http://www.scotusblog.com/...
the full decision: http://www.scotusblog.com/...
Fucking shit. I'd say more I'd put more. But I'm so pissed and so sad and so upset. I knew this would happen. Even after hearing the arguments and reading the briefs I knew this court would find for against corporate liability.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE VALDEZ. This is about the Supreme Court vastly curtailing corporatations liabilty for grossly negligent acts and for acts by their employees
This decision is legal bullshit. And more bullshit in an attempt to limit punitive damages.
The decision in a nut shell: punitive damages under Federal common law should be pegged to compesetory damages. That's bullshit. and in this case it's especially bullshit. Because while Exxon paid only 500 million in punitives they spent billions on cleanup (read: worthless PR, that was done for image not to actually clean-up the environment). So EVEN IF the punitives should be set to compensatories it should include the amount that Exxon spent in cleanup, which was PART OF THE COMPENSATION.
in case you can't tell. I'm pissed! and saddened. And honestly, I'm scarred for the legal system in this country.
I wish I could clean this up... and fix the links above... but I don't have the energy.