People v. Oceana Terminal Corp.

In a time of justifiable concern for environmental conditions courts should guard against contributing to what might become hysterical reactions by persons charged, as in this case, with criminal responsibility for an oil spill. For that reason, and although there was an indication by defendant of its willingness to plead guilty to the charge, this court decided to reject that approach and after trial on January 24, 1974 to consider whether the defendant is guilty of violation of section 33 of the Navigation Law.

The corporate defendant Oceana Terminal Oorp. is a subsidiary of Cirillo Bros.…