Exxon v. Baker case brief summary

Exxon v. Baker case brief summary (2008) 

(standards for judges) In federal maritime cases (area of general common law), the ratio of punitive: compensatory damages shouldn’t exceed 1:1, to promote predictability in damages

• The court seems to be trying to establish a broad federal common law rule
• Three categories:
• Verbal Formulations
• Aimed at jury (Jury Instructions) or judge (through legal standards)
• Allows discretion, case by case analysis.
• Disadvantages: Instructions can only go so far when awards aren’t tied to specific items of damage. It is inevitable that punitive damages awarded will be arbitrary.
• Hard $ Cap
• Consistency
• Disadvantage - extremely arbitrary. No standard injury makes it very difficult to settle on a proper amount across the board. Can grossly overcompensate or undercompensate.
• With a Multiplier of Compensatory Damages
• Controls for inflation
• Reflected in actual practices (statistics), if not actual rules, of states
• Disadvantages - likely to be disappointing where comp. is small. Unlikely to deter where the D is not likely to be caught.

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