When the Exxon Valdez ran aground in 1989, Andrew Wills was a successful herring fisherman in Alaska and the owner of three canneries.
The 11 million gallons of crude oil from the tanker destroyed the herring population and Mr. Wills’s fishing career, so he borrowed money to open a bookshop, a cafe and the Mermaid Bed and Breakfast in downtown Homer, Alaska.
Mr. Wills had expected to use his $85,000 share of the $2.5 billion punitive damage settlement against Exxon to pay off some of his debts. The United States Supreme Court decision on Wednesday cutting the damages to around $500 million means Mr. Wills will receive only $15,000, he said.
“After everything we’ve been through, that’s barely enough to cover payroll for a month,” he said. “This is a knife in the gut.”
Read Article The New York Times
Posted By Phoenix Accident Injury Attorneys
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