Torts Keyed to Prosser
Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker
Facts
This case stems from the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. Plaintiffs living in Prince William Sound, the location of the spill, sued Exxon for consequential economic losses that resulted from the spill, as such plaintiffs depended on the Sound for their economic livelihood. Fault was found because the captain left the bridge just before the accident, despite being the only officer capable of navigating the difficult passage. In addition, a blood alcohol test was conducted and found that the captain had been drinking the day of the accident, but it was unclear whether Defendant Exxon knew of the captain’s alcoholism. The District Court calculated total relevant compensatory damages to be $507.5 million, to go along with the $2.5 billion punitive damage award. The Supreme Court sits as a common law court under its admiralty jurisdiction.
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