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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

Nationwide MTBE Groundwater Contamination Litigation

Date: 10/19/2009 (Date of Verdict)

Misconduct Type: Environment

Enforcement Agency: State/Local

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Civil

Amount: $104,700,000

Disposition: Judgment Against Defendant

Synopsis: A dozen oil companies, including BP America Inc., Chevron Corp., Shell Oil Co. and Valero Energy Corp., agreed to pay over $423 million to settle litigation with public water providers in 17 states over groundwater contamination from the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). The companies also agreed to pay cleanup costs that arise in the next 30 years. Defendant Exxon Mobil refused to settle and faces numerous MTBE trials, scheduled to begin in September 2008. In October 2009, a federal jury in New York City found Exxon liable for contaminating water wells in and near Jamaica, Queens with MTBE and awarded the city $104.7 million in damages.