Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Exxon Valdez Appeal

The US Supreme Court issued an order granting the petition for a writ of certiorari in the case of Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker and denying certiorari in the cross-petition of Baker v. Exxon Shipping Co. The Court has agreed to hear argument on and decide three issues: (1) whether Exxon is liable in punitive damages for the actions of the master of the EXXON VALDEZ; (2) whether the penalty provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act preempt judge-made punitive damages for the same conduct; and (3) what are the appropriate standards for awarding punitive damages under general maritime law. Briefs filed with the Court in favor of or opposed to granting the writ of certiorari are available at Exxon Valdez Supreme Court Filings. [Source: HK Law]