Mesothelioma Lawyer: Libby criminal hearing Oct. 24

Libby criminal hearing Oct. 24

July 29th, 2008 by Wendi Lewis

Judge Donald Molloy has set a status hearing for all parties involved in the W.R. Grace criminal case in Missoula, Montana, Oct. 24. The criminal charges were initially filed in 2005, and alleges W.R. Grace knowingly endangered the lives of mine workers and other Libby, Montana, residents. The company is charged with charged with violating the Clean Air Act by releasing asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from its mine there. Asbestos disease devastated the town of Libby, affecting miners who worked in the now-closed vermiculite mine.

The stage was set for the criminal trial to begin when, on June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeals of W.R. Grace & Co. Judge Molloy signed the court order on July 9 originally setting the status hearing for Oct. 1, after receiving two notices from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, according to story published yesterday by Montana’s News Station.com, the CBS affiliate for the area. The hearing was later rescheduled for Oct. 24, and Molloy allowed two new defense attorneys to join the case.

The mandates from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals signal the end of the appeals process. A trial date could be set at the status hearing.

Asbestos touched the lives of everyone living in Libby, as it the mineral was used extensively throughout the town in projects like ballfields, a school running track and in people’s gardens. Hundreds of residents have died from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, and everyone is at risk of developing some form of asbestos disease in the future.

Tags: asbestos, criminal trial, Libby, mesothelioma, W.R. Grace & Co.

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