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Kodiak Attorney Matt Jamin addresses Exxon Valdez oil spill plaintiffs at a meeting Friday in Kodiak. (Photo by Stacy Studebaker).
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The
first of several meetings with plaintiffs in the aftermath of last week’s
Supreme Court decision in the Exxon Valdez oil spill punitive damages case was
held in Kodiak Friday. The meetings are designed to help claimants understand
the court’s decision, as well as what they can expect as the litigation winds
down. KMXT’s Casey Kelly has more.
Plaintiffs’
attorney Matt Jamin says the Supreme Court’s decision to limit punitive damages
in the case to 507.5 million dollars, or one-tenth of the original award an
Anchorage jury decided on in 1994, has been difficult for many who’ve spent 19
years of their lives suffering with the consequences of the spill.
(Jamin
1 :16s “…can’t be done as a result of it.”)
The
most optimistic timeline has the first settlement checks going out in three to
four months. Jamin says lawyers are confident that Exxon will be ordered to pay
about 488-million dollars in interest that’s accrued on the settlement over the
years. Whether the company appeals that ruling--or any other aspect of the
case--is unknown.
(Jamin
2 :12s “…certainly always a possibility.”)
Kristine
Harder stands to get a portion of the claim belonging to her late father, who
is among the 20 percent of the original claimants who have died before the case
could be resolved. Harder says Governor Sarah Palin should put pressure on
Exxon to pay, and pay quickly.
(Harder
1 :22s “…more than they already have.”)
Harder
says the meeting was good for claimants, many of whom feel emotionally drained
now that the end of the case is finally near.
(Harder
2 :05s “…the same way that you do.”)
More
meetings were held with claimants over the weekend in Kenai and Cordova. A
meeting is being held in Anchorage today and Seattle on Tuesday.
I’m
Casey Kelly.
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