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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

Exxon Mobil

Baltimore County Gasoline Leak – Civil Litigation (2009)

Date: 03/12/2009 (Date of Verdict)

Misconduct Type: Environment

Enforcement Agency: Non-Governmental

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Civil

Amount: $0

Disposition: Judgment Against Defendant

Synopsis: More than 300 residents of the Jacksonville area of northern Baltimore County, Maryland, sued Exxon Mobil for a discharge of more than 25,000 gallons of gasoline at a service station in January 2006. An underground pipe at the site leaked gasoline into the ground for over one month. In March 2009, a jury found Exxon liable and awarded a total of nearly $150 million in damages for medical expenses, diminution of property values and emotional distress. In February 2012, Maryland's intermediate appellate court reduced the damages to approximately $60 million. In February 2013, the Maryland high court threw out all damages and remanded several plaintiffs' claims for a new trial. See related Exxon Mobil instance, “Gasoline Leak (Baltimore County, Md.).”