The Supreme Court is expected to hear opening statements today in a nearly twenty-year battle over the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Exxon is appealing a ruling ordering it to pay $2.5 billion in damages to Alaskan residents affected by the spill. Two years ago, the company won a ruling halving the initial $5 billion claim. In Washington Tuesday, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin accused Exxon of corporate negligence.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin: “That more than 32,000 Americans have suffered and continue to suffer from the devastating effects of the worst oil spill in our nation’s history. As the high court prepares to hear oral arguments in this case, I’m going to remind them that it was almost nineteen years ago that the Exxon Valdez tanker struck that reef, spilled eleven million gallons of crude oil on 1,300 miles of Alaska’s majestic, resource-rich coastline.”

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has excused himself from the hearings because he owns ExxonMobil stock.