Exxon is arguing that because the disaster happend out at sea that the state can't rule on punitive damages & that it come under Maritime (Federal) Law, which Exxon clains doesn't have the legal right to hand out punitive damages. Historically this goes against all preceeding maritime law, claims the AG.
The courts have reduced the fine from 5 Billion down to 2 1/2 bil. It's also argued that punitive damages exceed 9x the amount of the actuall damage. In this case it's clain that it equals onlt 5x that amount.

If the courts see fit to reduce the fine any further of worst to let them off the hook, there should be a national boycott of all things Exxon until true damages are paid in full

They're also trying to claim that they can't be held responsible for the Captain's error in judgment as long as the company didn't interfere by redirecting the Captain or giving him orders to follow their instructions (that doesn't hold much water) They're also trying to claim that they didn't know the Captain had strayed from the strait & narrow (they're slick). This has been debunked though, they failed at that.

Barry

"What do you do with a drunken sailor (3x)
Put him in charge of an Exxon tanker"