"Jurors in MTBE case hear from lawyers in N.H.
Lawyers for ExxonMobil told jurors that the state of New Hampshire is looking for a lot of money and a scapegoat in its lawsuit over the oil giant’s use of the gasoline additive MTBE. Jurors will hear from both sides as they edge closer to the start of deliberations in the longest state trial in New Hampshire history. The state is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars to detect and treat ground water contaminated with MTBE. ExxonMobil lawyer James Quinn told jurors his client acted responsibly and in response to federal Clean Air Act mandates in adding MTBE to its gasoline between 1988 and 2005, and that experts say there were significant benefits in reducing smog."
NEXT DAY UPDATE:
"Exxon Mobil told to pay N.H. $236m" by Lynne Tuohy | Associated Press, April 10, 2013
CONCORD, N.H. — Exxon Mobil Corp. was found liable Tuesday in a long-running lawsuit over groundwater contamination caused by the gasoline additive MTBE, and the jury ordered the oil giant to pay $236 million to New Hampshire to clean it up.
The jurors reached their verdicts in less than 90 minutes, after sitting through nearly three months of testimony. Lawyers on both sides were stunned by the speed with which they reached the verdict on liability and even more stunned when the jurors took barely 20 minutes more to fill out the damages verdict.
I'm not, and I'm so pleased. What it shows you is AMERICANS are FED UP with LOOTING CORPORATIONS and are TIRED of the EXCUSES!!
It also shows you that the authorities who are supposed to be representing our interests do NOT HAVE a CLUE!!
The panel awarded the state all $236 million it was seeking to monitor and clean up the contaminated groundwater. The chemical was added to gasoline to reduce smog but was found to travel farther and more rapidly in groundwater than gasoline without the additive.
Yeah, great, the groundwater around here has been poisoned for years, great.
Exxon Mobil lawyers made it clear outside the jury’s presence last week that they were laying the groundwork for an appeal.
One might even call it a pipeline.
The verdict is more than twice the $105 million jurors awarded the New York City Water District in 2009 in its case against Exxon Mobil over MTBE contamination. That case is on appeal.
Jessica Grant, the state’s lead lawyer, said it was the largest verdict to date in an MTBE case. A financial analyst noted that the award represents about two days’ worth of profit for the company.
We call it chump change.
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