Judiciary Committee to Spotlight Supreme Court's Pro-Business Tilt
The Supreme Court has folded its tent for the summer, but its rulings continue to reverberate on Capitol Hill. The Senate Judiciary Committee has announced it will hold a hearing July 23 on the Supreme Court's recent rulings on corporate misconduct — especially Exxon Shipping v. Baker, which cut the punitive damage award in the Exxon Valdez case, and Stoneridge Investment v. Scientific-Atlanta, which dealt with third-party liability in securities fraud cases.
"Such decisions have hindered the rights of Americans to receive damages for harm done at the hands of large corporations," according to a press release issued by Committeee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. The hearing follows up on one in June that focused on the high court's federal preemption rulings ths term that have insulated companies from state tort actions. At next week's hearing, an Alaska fisherman who is still feeling the impact of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill is expected to testify, among others. The witness list has not been released, but we hear the Republican minority is seeking witnesses to present the business side of the equation.
Interesting, what do you guys think will come out of of this hearing?
Posted by: Raheem | July 17, 2008 at 12:35 PM