IAT NEWSLETTER

Summer 2008


This issue of the IAT newsletter is dedicated to the memory of James T. Hodkinson, the father of our dear friend, Sandy Clark.  We wish Sandy and her family healing and peace.


Calendar of Events | Conscious Choices | Environmental News | For Sale |

Letter from the President | Letters & Poems | Newsletter News |

Organization Information | Quote of the Month | Websites of Interest


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"IT'S ABOUT TIME WE BEGIN IT,
TO TURN THE WORLD AROUND . . . "


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ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
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Co-Founder/Former President - Marcelle Orswell (notmartha2@yahoo.com)
Co-Founder and Secretary -- Theresa Shea (Tree1A@aol.com)
Co-Founder/Webpage Designer-Sandy Clark
(tybrenn@comcast.net)
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@comcast.net) and
Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Web Site -- -- http://home.comcast.net/~tybrenn/iat/

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of the newsletter and to all those who participated in the poll we conducted a few months back. The results were very interesting, and some tell me that perhaps we need to reiterate our purpose with It's About Time. Our mission statement is: "It's about time...to reaffirm our commitment to making the world work....to spread messages of peace and environmental and social activism...to rededicate ourselves to helping our brothers and sisters in need...and to promote and protect the treasured memory of our "spirit guide", John Denver. To that end, we have striven to present news on the state of the environment as well as promote your good works, yet it saddens me that some of you responded that you would like to see less environmental content. A bit of a disconnect here, wouldn't you say?

Another response we received numerous votes for was "more John Denver content". Our world‚s problems are large. There‚s no question about that. And I know that if John were here with us today, he'd be at the front lines, fighting tooth and nail for the environment and the betterment of that world. So to those of you who asked for "more John Denver content" in this newsletter, I would suggest that you go out there and finish his work, then come tell us about it. What better tribute is there to him and to ourselves? Isn't *that* the "John Denver content" that this group was founded on?

Happy Summer! 
My heart to yours,
 
Ann
 
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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"Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it."

US President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Prime Minister Macmillan on radio - TV broadcast in London, August 31, 1959

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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JULY
July 26, 2008 - Hesston, Pa - "Headin' to The Mountains" - An evening with Christopher Westfall 7:00pm - Seven Points Amphitheater / Raystown Lake   * donations appreciated   Info:  Suzanne  srose312@embarqmail.com   http://raystown.nab.usace.army.mil
http://chriswestfall.com

July 28, 2008 ˆ McKinney, TX -- A Tribute to John Denver, 8 p.m. McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 N. Tennessee Street.  John Adams with special guest, Steve Weisberg, Tickets are $20 for balcony sides, $25 for balcony center and main floor and $50 for VIP tickets that include an after-co ncert party and a John Denver display in the gallery.
 
 
AUGUST
August 2, 2008 - Dousman, WI - Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup - Feel good about being with the outdoors again / The Wisconsin Friends of John Denver are looking for Garbage Getters & Trash Trackers to help with our summer clean-up / 11am - 1pm / Meet in the gravel parking lot of the Kettle Moraine Golf Club / 4299 US Hwy 67 / Trash bags & safety vests provided / Stick around afterwards for food, fellowship & fun / Contact: Carolyn Churchill at the_family_churchill@msn.com <mailto:the_family_churchill@msn.com> or by cell at 847-421-4609
 
August 9, 2008 - Hesston, PA - The Friends With You Band - "A Tribute to the Music of John Denver" - Seven Points Amphitheater / Raystown Lake 7:00pm - donations appreciated Chris Collins, Mark Corm ican, Kevin Delmolino and Paul Swanton.  Info: Suzanne  srose312@embarqmail.com  or Patty  pjspiker@verizon.net  http://friendswithyouband.com , http://raystown.nab.usace.army.mil

August 15-17, 2008 - South Lake Tahoe, CA - "Dancing With The Mountains: A Musical Tribute to John Denver" ˆ Tahoe Valley Campground / 1175 Melba Drive / South Lake Tahoe. The "Friends With You" band will be featured.  Info:  Laurie -  Laurie@LaurieKern.com http://groups.msn.com/TheSpiritofJohn

August 16, 2008 - Alto, NM - A Musical Tribute to John Denver with Mack Bailey, Bill Danoff, Alan Deremo, Pete Huttlinger, Gary Mule Deer, Chris Nole, John Sommers & Mollie Weaver  8:00pm Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts / Airport Highway 220 / Alto NM 88312 / (888) 818-7872  www.spencertheater.com

August 18, 2008 - Estes Park, CO - John Denver Tribute Concert at the Stanley Rodeo Arena in Estes Park. 7:30pm Brad & Kathy Fitch  * info@tropicowboy.com http://www.tropicowboy.com/whatsnew.htm
 
August 20, 2008 - Liverpool, NY - The 10th Annual John Denver Memorial Concert and food drive - Johnson Park - Village of Liverpool, NY 7:00pm - 9:00pm - free admission ˆ Please bring non perishable food items to benefit the Liverpool Food Pantry. A memorable evening of John's music performed live by Alan Taylor, The Very Excellent Folk Trio and Two Feet Short.  Lawn Seating  *   Alan Taylor (315) 299-5512 guitarman946@aol.com

August 23, 2008 - Estes Park, CO - "John Denver Tribute Concert" 7:00pm Fund-raiser for the Lion's Club Charities.  Stanley Park Rod eo Arena / http://www.cowboybrad.com <http://www.cowboybrad.com/> Info: cowboybrad@earthlink.net

August 31, 2008 - Fort Collins, CO - John Denver Tribute Concert / Senior Center 7:00pm  *  info@tropicowboy.com  http://www.tropicowboy.com
 
 
SEPTEMBER
September 2, 2008 - Fort Collins, CO - John Denver Tribute Concert / Senior Center 7:00pm  *  info@tropicowboy.com <mailto:info@tropicowboy.com>  http://www.tropicowboy.com <http://www.tropicowboy.com/> <http://www.tropicowboy.com/>

September 6, 2008 - UK - "Country Roads: A Celebration of John Denver" - Wayne Denton at Warners Bembridge, Isle of Wight (Tel: 01983 873 931)

September 8-12, 2008 - Peaceful Valley, CO - Tom Crum's "Journey to Center 2008", a 5 day residential program $2095 double occupancy / info@aikiworks.com <mailto:info@aikiworks.com>  (585) 924-7302    http://www.aikiworks.com Aiki Works, Inc. PO Box 251 Victor, NY 14564

September 13, 2008 - UK - Our autumn 2008 Denver Day will be held at Walton Village Hall, near Stafford. Denver Day will be followed by a concert by Mark Robinson.  Info: Christine Moon  fojdclub@fojd.org.uk  http://www.fojd.org.uk

 
OCTOBER
October 8, 2008 - Aspen, CO - "Wake Up Your Possibilities"  with speakers Dr. Robert Fuller, Pastor Keith Perry and Chris Collins / 3:00-9:00pm Gourmet Meal served at 6:00pm / Entertainment will include a performance by Jeff Pine.  Maroon Bells Lodge at the T-Lazy-7 Ranch / 3129 Maroon Creek Road / Aspen, CO 81611 * Tickets $65 before August 1, 2008 / For tickets send a SASE and a check made payable to Peaceful Blue Planet Foundation / c/o Hollie Carter / 5044 Southland Drive / Woodstock, GA 30188    Holliecwoodstock@aol.com * (678) 576-0269

October 9, 2008 - Aspen, CO - "It's Easy Being Green" workshop #1 10:00 - 11:00am and #2 11:00 - 12:00 noon.  Interactive workshop on living more lightly on the planet.    $5 don ation for one workshop or $8 for both. Reservations:  Send SASE and check to AHP, PO Box 1374, Frisco, CO 80443  or email charlotte@colorado.net / Will be held at Aspen Community Church, 200 E. Bleeker, Aspen, CO

October 9, 2008 - Aspen, CO - Meet and Greet / John Denver Sanctuary 3:30pm / Deb Perry  aspeninoctober@wowway.com

October 9, 2008 - Aspen, CO - Worship on the Mountain 4:00pm Christian non-denominational service officiated by Pastor Keith Perry / Deb Perry - aspeninoctober@wowway.com

October 9, 2008 - Aspen, CO - "Friends With You" Concert / Aspen Community Church 7:00pm $15 per person  Sharon Cormican  alaskanchild@msn.com

October 10, 2008 - Aspen, CO - Steve Gillette and his wife, Cindy, will be presenting a concert at the Aspen Community Church. Ellen Stapenhorst will open. 2:00pm  Aspen & Bleeker Streets / Tickets: $15  Send a check plus SASE to: J. Therrien, 12 Dunecrest Ave., Monterey, CA 93940 info:  jht2008@pacbell.net

October 10, 11, 2008 - Aspen, CO - 11th Annual Musical Tribute to John Denver / Wheeler Opera House / 320 E. Hyman Ave.  7:00pm   http://www.expectamiraclenow.org  Featuring: Bill Danoff, John Sommers, Gary Muledeer, Denny Brooks, Ken n Roberts, Jim Salestrom, Mollie Weaver, Richie Garcia, Alan Deremo, Chris Nole, Pete Huttlinger and Jim Horn.  Steve Gillette will also perform at this show.   http://www.wheeleroperahouse.com

October 11, 2008 - Ashcroft, CO - Second Annual Pine Creek Cookhouse event called "Coming Together in Harmony" 11:00am - 3:30pm / Live music with the Friends With You Band / Mr. Wilcox will premier a new DVD of John Denver footage including John singing "The Gold and Beyond" from the 1984 Winter Olympics that will only be available at the event. Tickets $50   srose312@embarqmail.com or   windwalker@samsco.org

October 12, 2008 - Aspen, CO - A Windstar Celebration on the land 10:00am - 4:00pm / Free to all members  of Windstar, or you can join that day. Info: Shari  apokey1@aol.com

October 12, 2008 - Aspen, CO - John Adams at the Wheeler Opera House   *   http://www.wheeleroperahouse.org  7:00pm  $35.00 / Tickets on sale 6-2-08 Wheeler Box Office  (970) 920-5770 or (866) 449-0464

October 12, 2008 - Aspen, CO - Join Mack Bailey, Chris Nole and Pete Huttlinger for an afternoon of music at the Aspen Chapel / 77 Meadowood Dr / Aspen, CO 81611  3:00pm    Purchase tickets through PayPal at mack@mackbailey.com  or send a c heck to Mack Bailey / PO Box 201435 / Denver, CO 80220  $25  Advanced ticket orders must be postmarked by September 30, 2008.  After that, you can purchase them at the door. www.chrisnole.com   * www.mackbailey.com <http://www.mackbailey.com/> * www.petehuttlinger.com

October 13, 2008 - Aspen, CO - It's Goodbye Again 5:00pm Wagner Park on Durant Ave (Ball field across from the Mountain Chalet).  Bring Kleenex & cameras Deb Perry  aspeninoctober@wowway.com

October 15, 2008 - UK - "Country Roads: A Celebration of John Denver" - Wayne Denton at Warners Sinah Warren, Hampshire (Tel: 02392 466 421)

October 25, 2008 - Dousman, WI - Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup /Wisconsin Friends of John Denver / Kettle Moraine Golf Club / 4299 US Hwy 67 / Trash bags & safety vests provided Stick around afterwards for food, fellowship & fun Carolyn Churchill:  the_family_churchill@msn.com or (847) 421-4609
 
 
(thanks to Emily Parris and the Rocky Mountain High newsletter for these dates; thanks too, to Karen Tupek for keeping us up to date with Mack Bailey‚s schedule, PattiAnn Cutter and others for information on Chris Westfall‚s engagements, and Deb Sanderson for news of events in California)

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LETTERS & POEMS
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HAWK MOUNTAIN AND JOHN DENVER EXPERIENCE
By Terri Donahue
 
In April of this year, my husband, Mark and I decided to take a short trip to Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania.  This area is supposed to be phenomenal in October with the fall hawk migration.  However, in April, it was the peak time for spring migration, which was not as plentiful with hawks.  Despite the fact that there were hardly any hawks to be seen, which was the reason my bird-watching husband wanted to go, I had ulterior motives.  Several years ago, back in July of 2001, there was a John Denver Tribute Concert at the amphitheater at Hawk Mountain.  When I was here back in 2001, a recently installed wooden bench, with the inscription "Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr." was located somewhere near the Visitor Center.  My quest for this little travel ing venture was to satisfy my husband‚s bird watching obsession first, then I would casually stroll over to the Visitor Center and rely on my memory to locate the bench.
 
Hawk Mountain, being a mountain, involved some hiking up some mild to steep terrain.  After a short hike, we approached our first mountain overlook.  While Mark wandered out on the rocks of the outcropping, I stayed back a bit, to watch a mother with her two young boys eagerly climbing onto the rocks, which gave ME much nervous anxiety.  There was another male hiker sitting on a wooden bench by a tree.  I took some pictures of the scenery and waited for my husband to finish his hawk sighting.  We were about to depart from this spot and move on to another, when the guy who was sitting on the bench got up and left.  As I turned around, my eyes just happened to glance at the empty bench.  Then my eyes popped!  There on this worn-out wooden bench were the words, "Hen ry John Deutschendorf, Jr. a.k.a. John Denver" FAR OUT!  This was a John Denver moment, as I call them.  Had the guy not gotten up off the bench before we left, and had I not glanced at the bench, not expecting it to be at that site, I might not have found the bench!  During the rest of our hike throughout the park, there was bench after bench all along the way.  Each one was inscribed with a dedication to a loved one.  There were so many benches!  It definitely was John sending a message to lead me to that particular bench at that particular site.  In hindsight, I don‚t know if there were actually TWO benches dedicated to John here, but I was just a happy hiker to know that I found one with his name on it.  It was kind of like a "Rocky Mountain High" day after that!


 
The Making of an Unfriendly Environment
(by Carole Romanowski - whispjesse@aol.com)

An environmental concern came up recently from one of my neighbors that I'd like to share with you. I had permission from her to write this.

She and her husband bought their house 20 years ago. The original owners had converted from oil to gas heat and left the original, now unused, oil tank which is in a concrete enclosure under her backyard steps outside. Recently, 20 years later, the drained tank started deteriorating and residual oil emissions were found.

Now since my neighbor's husband had just changed their house insurance to another carrier and added new fire coverage in case their entire house burned down and had to be rebuilt, my friend learned the ol d rusting tank was leaking, thereby producing emissions and is in violation of EPA standards so it must be removed. She was even fined - not the former owner! - $200 for harboring the tank even though she never knew it was a problem! This would also apply to an abandoned oil tank underground due to oil seepage polluting the ground.

Therefore, if anyone reading this has an old abandoned oil tank on their property, please be aware it is an environmental hazard, in addition to being a deterrent to collecting fire hazard insurance if it should cause a fire and destroy the house. The insurance company may not pay for it's rebuilding. Therefore, it is wise to remove it. Yes, there will be contacting a removal agency, awaiting permits from your local fire department plus one from the city in which you live, and after the tank's removal, having a plumber check all tank lines are drained and  safe. There, of course, is also expense involved. But it is worth it.


And as our environmentally friendly John Denver would say about my neighbor removing her old oil tank after 20 years, "It's about time!"
 
From Reg Andrew (UK):
 
what is it now, 10 years since john died, i for one, and i know that there are hundreds more that miss him coming over to the uk.  i listen to him every day, i hear the messages in his songs and wish that he was still with us.  John, you are so very much missed.  god bless you for all that you did, and tried to do. god bless

 

From Kathy Lill:
 
Recently, I purchased another pair of Crocs shoes for work.  I‚m a nurse and these shoes are hugely popular in the medical field.
 
I found some interesting information on some advertising that accompanied this latest purchase and thought I would share it with all of you.  I‚m sure you know of someone who wears Crocs and you may wish to forward this on to them.  
 
What a great idea to recycle your used Crocs and know that you are helping someone.  Here‚s one way you can "make a difference."
 
I plan to let my hospital know about this and will volunteer to collect any used Crocs and send them to a Crocs collection center.
 
The short video at the website below explains the process.
 

http://www.solesunited.com/
 
From Mary Ledford:
 
Pete Huttlinger would like to increase his presence on the web and his monthly online newsletter is a great way to do that.  If you are interested, go to hi s website:  www.petehuttlinger.com and click on e-mail sign up and you'll be on his list!   It's a great newsletter and you'll also be informed of his appearances across the country!

 
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The Troubadour
 
If you should ever feel downhearted
And your dreams turn into dust
And friends would soon forsake you
Know nature's all that you can trust.
 
For Summer always bronzes shoulders
Fall still paints landscapes red, gold
And Spring surely ushers in rebirth
While ivory snow's Winter's gift of cold.
 
So test the inner strength within you
Seek self-discovery, ponder on
"...yourself reflected in the seasons"
"...understand (your) need to carry on."
 
Trust in nature's continuity
It's a lesson for everyone
For no one knew this more than John
Since he was Mother Nature's Son.
 
 
Midnight Musings
 
Come reflect with me on a midnight eve
When the slumbering earth is still.
While the firmament's in deep shadow
For the day has had it's fill.

Are the cumulous puffy clouds of day
John's pillows for rest at night?
Are the sparkling stars in the Universe
Chandeliers to guide John's flight?

Does John's spirit traverse the Milky Way
Or glimpse the Heaven's Northern Lights?
Does it "fill the darkness of the Heavens"
As it ascends to dizzying heights?

So come gaze with me at the midnight sky
And should we discover a shooting star
Dare we muse it's John at an eagle's nest
Letting us know he's not too far?

(both poems copyright by Carole Romanowski - whispjesse@aol.com)

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CONSCIOUS CHOICES – TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SAVING $, TIME AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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Did you know that chargers such as those for your iPod or cellphone are always drawing electricity, even when they’re not in use?  Pull out their plugs unless you’re charging your electronic equipment to save money and energy.


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WEBSITES OF INTEREST
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If you find sites with interesting projects or information, please pass 'em on! -- AS
 
************************************************************************
From USA Weekend Magazine, May 25, 2008 (and Sandy Clark)
 
http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/080525/080525thinksmart-breast-cancer-jobs-recycle.html#greensmart

Recycle for charity
 
If you need more of a reason to recycle (beyond saving the planet), many organizations now are offering the opportunity to give back while you, well, get back. Her e are a few ways:
 
Yogurt cups aren't accepted for recycling in every town, so Stonyfield Farm Yogurt teamed up with TerraCycle to collect its used containers and reuse them as planting pots. Schools or charities get 2 cents to 5 cents per container, depending on its size. Sign up at terracycle.net/brigades.
 
In 12 U.S. states, kids can collect plastic shopping bags, recycle them and earn money for their school through Wal-Mart's Kids Recycling Challenge (kidsrecyclingchallenge.com). Enroll by Aug. 1 for the 2008-09 school year.
 
Cell Phones for Soldiers was started by a teenage brother-and-sister team from Massachusetts in 2004 to give soldiers prepaid phone cards so that they could call home more frequently. The charity (CellPhonesforSoldiers.com) accepts your old cellphones, sells them to a recycler and uses the money to buy cards for the troops.


 
Wanna buy a "green" car?  Don't know where to find information on which models are the cleanest?  Check out this site:  http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/index.php <http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/index.php>


 
The Natural Resources Defense Fund's Simple Steps:  http://simplesteps.org/


 
http://www.idealbite.com/  
 
Ideal Bite offers bite-sized ideas for light green living.  We know that you would jus t love to "do the right thing" for yourself and the planet if it were convenient, fun, inexpensive, and made you feel good. But until now you have lacked a good source of advice for real people leading busy lives.  Enter Ideal Bites!  Easy eco-living tips are delivered in a short, sassy email each weekday.
 
Sign up is free
 
Check you carbon footprint....
 
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/

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FOR SALE
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If you're looking for something special for a special someone, come check out what Wildlife Creations (http://www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation) has to offer!! We have many items relating to John Denver and other items that would make fantastic gifts for people you know and love!  Or gift someone who is hard to buy for, something that they will talk about for years! From keychains, snowglobes, t-shirts, potpourri jars and  more!!!  We're sure you'll find something! And remember, whenever you purchase from Wildlife Creations, you're not only giving a gift to someone you know, but to the Windstar Foundation and also the National Wildlife Federation, in John's memory, for wolf education as all proceeds are given to them. Wildlife Creations is now offering a feature product.
 
Checkout the website for this month's offering!  For more information, you can email us at wldlifecreation@wildmail.com.
 
In this healing time...
Thank you for helping to make the world
a better place in which to live,
 
Diana and Susan
Wildlife Creations
http://www.geocities.com/wldlifecreation

 

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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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From The New York Times
 
WASHINGTON   | June 26, 2008
 
Damages Cut Against Exxon in Valdez Case
By ADAM LIPTAK
p;
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reduced what had once been a $5 billion punitive damages award against Exxon Mobil to about $500 million. The ruling essentially concluded a legal saga that started when the Exxon Valdez, a supertanker, struck a reef and spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into the Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1989.
 
The decision may have broad implications for limits on punitive damages generally. Punitive damages, which are meant to punish and deter, are imposed on top of compensatory damages, which aim to make plaintiffs whole.
 
Justice David H. Souter, writing for the majority in the 5-to-3 decision, said a ratio between the two sorts of damages of no more than one-to-one was generally appropriate, at least in maritime cases. Since Exxon has paid about $507 million to compensate more than 32,000 Alaska Natives, landowners and commercial fishermen for the damage caused by the spill, it should have to pay no more than that amo unt in punitive damages, Justice Souter said.
 
The plaintiffs have received an average of $15,000 each as compensation, and Wednesday‚s decision means they will receive a similar amount in punitive damages.
 
Justice John Paul Stevens, in a dissent, said he would have upheld the punitive damages award, which the federal appeals court in California had reduced to $2.5 billion.
 
"In light of Exxon‚s decision to permit a lapsed alcoholic to command a supertanker carrying tens of millions of gallons of crude oil though the treacherous waters of Prince William Sound, thereby endangering all of the individuals who depended upon the sound for their livelihoods," Justice Stevens wrote, "the jury could reasonably have given expression to its moral condemnation of Exxon‚s conduct in the form of this award."
 
The Exxon Valdez spill was the worst in American history, damaging 1,300 miles of shoreline, disrupting the lives and livelihoods of peopl e in the region and killing hundreds of thousands of birds and marine animals. It occurred after the ship‚s captain, Joseph J. Hazelwood, left the bridge at a crucial moment. Mr. Hazelwood, an alcoholic, had downed five double vodkas on the night of the disaster, according to witnesses.
 
The question remaining after Wednesday‚s decision is whether the one-to-one ratio will apply outside of maritime cases. In the Exxon case, the Supreme Court was acting as a state appellate court typically might, assessing the reasonableness of the punitive award under the common law rather than asking whether it violated constitutional due process protections.
 
The one-to-one ratio was not grounded in statutory law or other maritime cases. Justice Souter relied instead on studies showing that in hundreds of cases, the median punitive damage award was about 65 percent of the compensatory award.
 
"We consider that a 1:1 ratio, which is above the median award, is a  fair upper limit in maritime cases," Justice Souter wrote.
 
It is not clear what effect the decision will have in cases presenting the constitutional question. In 2003, in State Farm v. Campbell, the court ruled that a single-digit ratio (that is, no more than nine-to-one) was appropriate as a matter of due process in all but the most exceptional cases. In cases where compensatory damages are substantial, the State Farm decision went on, "a lesser ratio, perhaps only equal to compensatory damages," might be warranted.
 
Justice Souter‚s last footnote in Wednesday‚s decision, Exxon Shipping v. Baker, No. 07-219, underscored the suggestion in State Farm that in cases with substantial compensatory awards "the constitutional outer limit may well be 1:1."
 
The Exxon decision may also be influential in cases where state court judges are making their own common-law assessments of reasonableness. While the Supreme Court‚s reasoning in a federal maritime case is not binding on them, at least some state judges will find it instructive and persuasive.
 
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. owns Exxon stock and did not participate in the decision. As a consequence, the court split 4-to-4 on a separate question, whether Exxon may be held accountable for Mr. Hazelwood‚s recklessness. The effect of the split was to leave intact the ruling of the lower court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which said Exxon might be held responsible.
 
In addition to Justice Stevens, two other justices issued dissents from the majority‚s ruling reducing the punitive award.
 
Justice Stevens wrote that imposing a broadly applicable rule is a job for Congress, not the courts. He acknowledged the problem of "large outlier awards" but said courts could address those case by case.
 
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked a series of pointed questions in her dissent. For instance: "What ratio will the cour t set for defendants who acted maliciously or in pursuit of financial gain?" And: "On the next opportunity, will the court rule, definitively, that 1:1 is the ceiling due process requires in all of the states, and for all federal claims?"
 
In his dissent, Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote that Exxon‚s conduct warranted "an exception from strict application of the majority's numerical rule."
 
Jeffrey L. Fisher, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said there was "a great deal of sadness" among his clients. "What is painful," Mr. Fisher said, "is that there seems to have been some disagreement between the dissenters and the majority on how reprehensible Exxon's conduct was."
 
In a statement, Rex W. Tillerson, the chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil, said: "The company cleaned up the spill and voluntarily compensated more than 11,000 Alaskans and businesses. The cleanup was declared complete by the State of Alaska and the United States Coast Guard in 1992."

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NEWSLETTER NEWS
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If you would like to submit articles, news items, stories, poetry, or any other pertinent information to IT'S ABOUT TIME, please e-mail any of the IAT staff.  The submission deadline for the next edition is October 19, 2008.  Please be sure to include any contact information so that members can e-mail or snail-mail for further details.

 
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The contents of this newsletter are entirely at the discretion of the "It's About Time" staff.   Contributions, as always, are welcomed, although inclusion is not guaranteed.  All contributed material may be subject to editing for content and length.
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". . . IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START TO LIVE IT,
THE FAMILY OF MAN,
IT'S ABOUT TIME
AND IT'S ABOUT CHANGES . . .
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME."

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