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Exxon Mobil Corp., the oil company found responsible for a 26,000-gallon leak of gasoline into the groundwater of a northern Baltimore County neighborhood in 2006, filed an appeal Friday of a trial verdict that awarded $150 million to a group of residents affected by the spill.
"We agree with the jury's finding that this incident was an unfortunate accident and not a fraudulent or intentional act," said Kevin M. Allexon, a spokesman for the company. "We believe, however, that compensation should be limited to actual harm caused by the spill, and the jury's verdict goes well beyond reasonable compensation."
Neighbors of the Jacksonville service station from which the leak originated filed suit against Exxon when it became clear that the area's groundwater, which supplies homeowners' wells and household needs, had been contaminated by the leak. The equivalent of four tanker loads of regular gasoline spread through the ground for more than five weeks before the leak was discovered.
Last month, a Circuit Court judge affirmed the decision of a Baltimore County jury in March to compensate 89 families for the value that was lost from their properties as a result of the leak. The jury also ordered Exxon to pay for cancer screenings for the residents.
"We agree with the jury's finding that this incident was an unfortunate accident and not a fraudulent or intentional act," said Kevin M. Allexon, a spokesman for the company. "We believe, however, that compensation should be limited to actual harm caused by the spill, and the jury's verdict goes well beyond reasonable compensation."
Neighbors of the Jacksonville service station from which the leak originated filed suit against Exxon when it became clear that the area's groundwater, which supplies homeowners' wells and household needs, had been contaminated by the leak. The equivalent of four tanker loads of regular gasoline spread through the ground for more than five weeks before the leak was discovered.
Last month, a Circuit Court judge affirmed the decision of a Baltimore County jury in March to compensate 89 families for the value that was lost from their properties as a result of the leak. The jury also ordered Exxon to pay for cancer screenings for the residents.
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MJH5150. The jury gave a defense (Exxon) verdict. The suit was for BILLIONS. I would love to know what the offer to settle was, and whether it eclipsed the jury verdict.
freedomlaw (10/11/2009, 9:49 AM )