On September 16, 1994, a jury trial of several months duration
resulted in a record punitive damages award of $5 billion against
the Exxon defendants as a consequence of one of the largest oil
spills in U.S. history. The award was reduced to $507.5
million pursuant to a Supreme Court decision. David Berger
was co-chair of the plaintiffs' discovery committee (appointed by
both the federal and state courts). Harold Berger served as a
member of the organizing case management committee. H. Laddie
Montague was specifically appointed by the federal court as one of
the four designated trial counsel. Both Mr. Montague and
Peter Kahana shared (with the entire trial team) the 1995 "Trial
Lawyer of the Year Award" given by the Trial Lawyers for Public
Justice.