US companies are facing high-stakes litigation at the Supreme Court starting on Tuesday, as the justices begin a two-week session in which they will hear several important business cases from employment discrimination to punitive damages. The court…will on Tuesday hear the first of three cases that could have a big impact on job retaliation lawsuits: suits brought by workers who claim that they have been dismissed, demoted or otherwise penalised because they complained about job discrimination…Next week, Exxon will try to persuade the Supreme Court that it should not have to pay $2.5bn in punitive damages to victims of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. US business groups are hoping the court will use the case to limit the size of punitive damage awards even outside the shipping industry. [also refers to Cracker Barrel (part of CBRL Group)]