Corporate felony fines are trivial compared to the costs of the harm

Evidence

In a public presentation to the citizens of Woburn, the EPA unveiled a reclamation plan that would take fifty years to complete and would cost an estimated $69.4 million, the largest and most costly environmental cleanup in New England. … W. R. Grace was indicted by the U.S. Attorney for lying in its statements to the EPA, lies that Schlichtmann had brought to the Justice Department’s attention because of Al Love’s willingness to come forward. Grace pleaded guilty to two felony counts and was assessed the maximum fine, which at the time amounted to ten thousand dollars. Shortly after, W. R. Grace announced that it would close its Woburn plant, where ninety-five workers were employed. — , Harr Jonathan - A Civil Action, 3148

Categorization

• CANDY: Grace poisoned a town, pleaded guilty to two felonies, and paid $10,000 — then closed the plant and put 95 people out of work.
• SEED: Angle: ‘The Price of a Felony’ — a survey of maximum statutory fines that corporations treat as a rounding error, and why the fine caps are set legislatively low.