W.R. Grace acquitted in Montana asbestos case

[ColbertWatcher]

From the Los Angeles Times
W.R. Grace acquitted in Montana asbestos case
The verdict, which also acquits three former executives for the chemical company, is a blow to the residents of polluted Libby, Mont. — and to the reeling Justice Department.
By Kim Murphy
May 9, 2009

(...)

In Libby, where an estimated 1,200 residents have died or developed cancer or lung disease, the judgment dashed hopes that someone would be held accountable for decades of suffering.

"We never expected restitution on this," said Libby resident Gayla Benefield, who has seen dozens of family members become sick from asbestos exposure. "How can you give someone restitution when you've taken their life? This was about closure, to finally say, 'Yes, this company did this to us, and we can finally get on with our lives.' But that didn't happen, did it?"

W.R. Grace still faces civil cases in which residents are seeking compensation for health claims.

For nearly three decades, the Columbia, Md.-based company operated a vermiculite mine in Libby, producing the puffy granules used to insulate attics and aerate gardens. The vermiculite contained cancer-causing asbestos fibers that could lodge in the lungs. The material posed a risk for not just the mine workers and their families, but the entire town: The high school running track and community ice-skating rink both were built with asbestos-laden mine tailings.

(more at the link)

--Los Angeles Times

No one will be held criminally responsible.

I wonder how much of this is due to the Bush DoJ? Anyone care to guess?

[cali]

1. so outrageous and depressing. n/t

[blueknight]

2. meanwhile

people keep dying.....

[EPIC1934]

3. GraceISMassMurder.com

THis company is one of the bloodiest in history in terms of net deaths. Lots of the early ones came in mines in South America, I think in Peru and Bolivia? That is why this company is far right. A lot of these companies disagreed with UN multilateral and wanted US unilateralism in Latin America so US could go in whenever they wanted. This was a major division within the Democrats around 1961-1963