Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker
United States Supreme Court
554 U.S. 471 (2008)
Relevant factsFree
The Exxon Valdez ran aground due to the negligence of its captain, an employee of Exxon Shipping Co. (defendant), spilling oil into Prince William Sound. Baker and other fishermen and Sound users (plaintiffs) sued for economic losses; the district court awarded $507.5 million in compensatory damages and $5 billion in punitive damages, which the Ninth Circuit reduced to $2.5 billion. Exxon appealed the punitive award to the Supreme Court.
IssueFree
Whether a punitive-to-compensatory damages ratio of approximately 5:1 is too high in a maritime case.
Related cases
McIntosh County Bank v. Dorsey & Whitney, LLP745 N.W.2d 538 (2008)McMillan v. City of New York253 F.R.D. 247 (2008)Boim v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (Boim III)549 F.3d 685 (7th Cir. 2008)Khalifa v. Shannon945 A.2d 1244 (Md. 2008)Donnellan v. First Student, Inc.891 N.E.2d 463 (2008)