Bloomberg Law
Nov. 5, 2019, 5:26 PM

CITGO’s Bid to Avoid Oil Spill Liability Probed by Supreme Court

Ellen M. Gilmer
Ellen M. Gilmer
Reporter

Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical Nov. 5 of a refining company’s argument that it shouldn’t be on the hook for a 6,000-barrel oil spill in the Delaware River.

During oral arguments, several justices pushed back on CITGO Asphalt Refining Co.'s contention that it isn’t financially responsible for the 2004 accident, in which a ship struck an abandoned anchor while en route to deliver oil from Venezuela to a refinery near Philadelphia.

“It’s not a safe port,” Chief Justice John Roberts said, getting to the heart of the dispute.

The question in the case is whether CITGO, which ...

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