Families of Libby’s mesothelioma victims disappointed at W.R. Grace “not guilty” verdict
At the end of last week, a Montana federal jury acquitted asbestos manufacturer W.R. Grace and three of its former executives in a criminal trial based on allegations that they conspired to hide the asbestos hazards from the company’s vermiculite mining operations. The company operated a vermiculite mine just outside of the small town of Libby, Montana, and the ore was contaminated with tremolite asbestos. Prosecutors alleged that W.R. Grace and its executives knew about the risk and hid it—from its miners, from residents of Libby and from the federal government.
In Libby, Montana, hundreds of people have died of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases because of the asbestos contamination in W.R. Grace’s vermiculite mine. Families of these asbestos victims, along with the rest of Libby, Montana, have watched the progress of the W.R. Grace criminal trial very carefully over the last few months.
When all the remaining defendants were found “not guilty” late last week, emotions in the town ranged from disappointment and sadness to intense anger. Some people in the town believe that W.R. Grace has gotten away with murder in the town of Libby. The mayor of Libby criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case, and others felt that the residents of Libby and the EPA’s work there were put on trial—instead of W.R. Grace and its executives.
But for W.R. Grace, the verdict is excellent news and may allow the company to emerge from bankruptcy in the near future.
A former grace attorney is still awaiting trial.
For the full story, go to the Washington Post and Montana’s News Station.
