Judge dismisses another defendant in W.R. Grace criminal trial
In the face of bad evidence rulings and skepticism from the judge, prosecutors in the W.R. Grace criminal trial have asked the judge to drop changes against another one of W.R. Grace’s former executives. Prosecutors explained that their case against the defendant was based on a conspiracy theory and that the judge’s evidentiary rulings had made it very difficult to prove the conspiracy case against him.
The judge dismissed William McCaig, leaving only W.R. Grace and three of its former executives in the case.
The trial involves W.R. Grace’s vermiculite mine near Libby, Montana. W.R. Grace knew that asbestos contamination in its vermiculite ore made the dust from its mining operations dangerous to its employees in the mine. In addition, W.R. Grace offered the dusty mine trailings to be used as fill all over the town of Libby—even under the school running track—exposing people across the community to the dangerous fibers.
Hundreds of people in Libby, Montana have died of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The residents of this small community have watched the trial will great interest and growing fear that the defendants could escape criminal punishment for the decisions that devastated their beautiful town.
Defendants have asked the judge for an order of acquittal on all charges. In effect, the defendants want the judge to say they are not guilty, regardless of what the jury might decide. The judge has not ruled on the motions yet, but he can rule on them even after the jury returns a verdict.
For the full story, go to The Missoulian.
