A federal judge has reduced by $1 billion the damages award against Exxon Corporation for spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska, 13 years ago.
US District Judge Russel Holland reduced the original $5 billion punitive damages award to $4 billion.
An Alaska jury in 1994 approved the original award in the Exxon Valdez spill, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the award was excessive and sent the case back to Holland.
Exxon says it will appeal against the new figure. "Our position is no punitive damages are really warranted in this case," said company spokesman Mr Tom Cirigliano.
Mr Dave Oesting, lead counsel for the roughly 32,000 plaintiffs - including fishermen, communities, businesses and landowners - said he was pleased with the decision.
"He believes $4 billion is an appropriate number, nothing less," Mr Oesting said.
Exxon argued that the company was effectively punished and deterred by the billions it had paid out in cleanup costs, compensation to hundreds of claimants and government fines.
