WASHINGTON, June 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision on the Exxon Valdez oil spill lawsuit on any Monday in the next four weeks, officials say.
A decision in the dispute over a $2.5 billion punitive damage award is due out before the Supreme Court term ends June 23, The Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.
In March 1989, the ruptured tanker Exxon Valdez dumped at least 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound in Alaska.
The case marks the highest punitive damage award ever upheld by a federal court.
"They always leave their toughest ones until last, that's what everybody always says," said attorney David Oesting, part of the legal team representing the commercial fishermen, Alaska natives and other plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Exxon.
Since an Anchorage jury in 1994 returned a $5 billion punitive-damages award against Exxon for its role in the spill, the case's 32,677 plaintiffs in the case have been waiting to see their money.
Some 6,000 of the original plaintiffs have died waiting, the newspaper reported.
Award checks could be issued within 180 to 200 days if the high court rules their favor, Oesting said.
