European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 28, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes tuesday january 2b, 1986 Exxon ordered to repay users $2 billion largest . Firm is found guilty of overcharging on Texas Oil Washington apr the supreme court said monday in effect that Exxon corp. Must repay Consumers nationwide Mote than s2 billion in refunds and interest for overcharging on the Sale of Oil from a Texas Field. The court without comment id stand a ruling that the Money be distributed to the states and spent on programs o help the needy and Energy Consumers. The Penally against a Jon is the Ini Gwi monetary judgment in american history to be upheld on Appeal. Last november a slate jury in Texas ordered Tinaco to pay $10.s3 billion to Peiin Oil for improper in interfering with that company s acquisition of Getty Oil co. Appeals in the Cascara pending. The judgment against Exxon ordered by j Federal judge in 1983, was upheld last july by a special Federal appeals court Here. Exxon the nation s largest corporation was found to have overpriced Oil from the Hawkins Field near Tyler Texas Between 1975 and 1981. The corporation in a supreme court Appeal supported by the us. Chamber of Commerce did it was the victim of confusing Federal regulations. Exxon lawyers said the corporation was penalized Tor expanding production Al a time of heightened National concern Over in orgy shortages. The supreme court also was urged by the airline Industry other Oil companies n Utility company a tracking firm 3  company and u Motorist to review the cose and order redistribution of the Money. They said they should be reimbursed for buying overpriced Oil from Exxon. Exxon was found to have made illegal profits of $895.5 million by classifying so called old ail As new Oil Ana thus Selling it at nearly twice the Price the Federal controls hat created the two tier pricing system were removed by president Reagan immediately after he took office in 1981. The balance of the judgment against Exxon is in inter est charges of approximately 1500,000 a Day. Exxon said in a statement it was Cir Emily disappointed in the decision not to review the Csc. We had hoped that after a review of the Case the supreme court would agree that the District court sum Mary judgment included major inequities and that Exxon and other producers should be allowed to present their Complete Case in court Exxon said. Supreme court Roundup la added thai the decision not 10 review inc Case continues ii trend of judicial rulings unfavourable to the Oil Industry which have involved 3 myriad of Legal issues arising from the Complex regulations promulgated during the period of Federal Price controls in other action the court ruled that slates May prevent bankrupt businesses from abandoning property that poses a threat to the Public health and safety. In a 5-4 ruling the court barred a bankruptcy trustee from abandoning Oil storage facilities in new York and new Jersey that were contaminated with highly toxic chemicals. Activated Al fast temporarily Federal regulations to combat drug and alcohol use by the nation s Railroad workers. The court granting an emergency request by the Rea Gan administration ordered that the regulations take effect even while i hair Validity is being challenged in a Federal appeals court. Let stand rulings that dismissed a suit by Anna Hauptmann inc widow of the Man executed 50 years ago for the Kidnap and murder of Charles Lindbergh s infant son. Mrs. Hauptmann said in the lawsuit that her husband was the innocent victim of a conspiracy to conceal Evi Dence. Ruled thai states May provide financial Aid to Handi capped individuals studying for careers in it ministry. By a 9-0 Vole in Al Washington stoic Case the court said the Constitution s requirement that Church and slate to separate does not bar Public funds to help the handicapped attend Bible colleges. Ruled that criminal defendants convicted after wrongly being forced la stand trial together Art not always in tilled to new trials. By a 7-2 vote in a Case from Amarilla Texas the court said such miso Indri sometimes can amount to harm less error thai docs nol require any further court action. Exxon was ordered to pay the $2 billion to the Federal government for redistribution to the Stales based on their Energy consumption during the period of overpricing. The states must spend the Money on Energy conserva Tion such As weal Herzing buildings and reducing con sumption by schools and hospitals and to Aid the poor with Home Utility Bills. Exxon operator of the Hawkins Oil Reid owned two thirds of it. In the mid 1970s, the company began to enhance the recovery of dwindling crude Oil production there by spending some j220 million to pump in inert Gas to create additional pressure for forcing out the Oil. The improvements will yield approximately 70 million Baric 3 of additional crude Exxon said. As part of the enhancement program inc other lease holders in the Field no longer Sci the specific production of their individual Wells. Instead they Are paid a percentage of inc Field s production. The dispute Over what is old Oil and what is new involve exactly when that accounting changeover took place. Exxon said Federal Energy officials created an Uncer Tain constantly shifting and incoherent crazy quilt of regulatory prescriptions that the corporation found impossible to obey. Bubbly Salute Al inc foot of Nice sculpture of the Lalue of Liberty James Mclean left manager of Faiuu i Lull marketplace in Boston and Alain Briotte French con sul general of Boston hold up a bottle of French Chen prone daring Salute to Liberty open log the marketplace s Winter let Vattol. At right supervising the release of 100 White dots is John she of the Ellis Island foundation. . Sailors based in Japan tested by Navy Tor aids san Diego up1 the Navy has been testing sailors stationed in Japan for ads this Moh Al inc urging of the Japa Nese government and without Pentagon approval it was reported sunday. The san Diego Union said adm. James Lyons commander of the Pacific fled or dered the testing without informing the Pentagon. A Navy official in Washington who wished to remain Anonymous told the Union that it was no Surprise Lyons took it upon himself to order the testing. In our relationship with Japan what Ever Japan wants Japan gels the official said. The Navy began testing 10.500 sailors based at Yokosuka. 70 Miles South of Tokyo on Jan. 1, the testing is expected to be Complete in March. Testing was also under Way at Navy bases on Guam and at Subic Bay in the Philippines the newspaper reported. Navy policy is to discharge any Saitaro who test positive for the aids virus or admit to homosexual activity japanese officials have been advising their citizens to avoid sexual Contact with people from the United states and other nations where the disease is found Shin Suke Morio a health official in Tokyo said. Carol Ludwig a spokeswoman for the . Embassy in Tokyo said she knew of no formal request for the testing from the japanese government. Mono said that it was not believed thai american sailors. Marines and airmen based in Japan would contribute to the spread of acquired immune deficiency in drome but that officials wanted to be care Ful. Aids most commonly strikes homosexual and bisexual men and intravenous drug abusers. The disease weakens the body immune system and clears the Way for Dis eases thai Are often fatal. Deploying women in Grenada did not violate Law of says los Angeles up the us. Air Force deployed women As flight Crew Mem Bers during the 1983 invasion of Grenada hut military officials said they did not violate a Federal Law that bars women from combat duty the los Angeles times reported. An estimated two dozen women helped Airlift troops and supplies into Grenada while . Forces were still engaged in com Bat with cuban forces at the Point Salines Airport the newspaper said sunday. No one was injured and no aircraft was hit during the Airlift operation to and from the Airport. There was some hostile fire but not in the immediate Vicinity said Mai. Gen. William mall who commanded the first wave of forces to attack the Caribbean is land in the Early morning hours of oct. 25,19b3. Military sources told the newspaper that sudden planning of the invasion did not give officials Lime to pick aircraft Crews. Women pilots., flight engineers and Liu masters were used As in expedient one source said. To have excluded an aircraft from the Mission simply i cause there was a woman aboard would have less Nad our response and reduced our effectiveness mall said. Federal Law prohibits the assignment of women to duty in aircraft engaged in com Bat missions but mall said that officials determined that the risk of exposure to hostile fire and the risk of capture in the Grenada operation did nol preclude Usina female troops