Montana Residents Sue Company for Health Violations

Feb. 24, 2000
Two class action lawsuits brought on behalf of residents of Libby, Mont., seek punitive and compensatory damages from W.R. Grace & Co. for its alleged disbursement of tremolite-containing asbestos into the air.

Two class action lawsuits were filed yesterday against W.R. Grace & Co. in Federal District Court in Missoula, Mont.

One action, brought on behalf of residents in the Libby, Mont., area seeks remediation of properties allegedly contaminated with tremolite asbestos resulting from W.R. Grace & Co.'s vermiculite mining and processing practices.

In the second action, present and former residents in Libby seek long-term medical diagnostic care for those exposed to tremolite asbestos.

Both actions ask the court to award punitive damages to the community of Libby an award that could be used by the residents for such purposes as future economic development and community renewal.

The suits allege that by 1968 Grace knew that its Libby vermiculite expanding plant was disbursing approximately 7 to 9 tons of tremolite-containing dust into the air in the Libby community.

The suit also contends that a 1969 Grace in-house study revealed a lung disease rate of 92 percent in Libby workers who worked more than 20 years at the mine, but that Grace did not disclose its study to the public or the medical community.

Further, the suite contends that Grace, which operated the mine until 1990, intentionally misrepresented to doctors and to workers that tremolite had not been associated with mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer.

Reports show that 150 miners and their family members have died from asbestos-related diseases and another 375 people have been diagnosed.

Grace's practices, according to the suit, have contaminated buildings, homes and properties, requiring extensive and expensive remediation.

Libby residents have also invested money in obtaining long-term diagnostic care ensuring early detection of tremolite asbestos caused diseases.

The suit is seeking punitive and compensatory damages from Grace.

In response to local concern about the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, EPA, Region 8 sent an Emergency Response Team to Libby in late November 1999.

The team immediately began assessing the situation and collecting information.

In December 1999, the EPA team collected nearly 700 samples of air, soil, dust and insulation.

In January, EPA released the indoor air sample results. The agency is still waiting for the results of the soil, dust and insulation samples. The results of these samples are expected back in March.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

Sponsored Recommendations

Avetta Named a Leader in The Verdantix Green Quadrant: Supply Chain Sustainability Software 2024

Nov. 26, 2024
Avetta was named a leader by Verdantix in a 2024 sustainability software report for our ability to help clients and suppliers build sustainable supply chains.

Avetta is a Leader in Supply Chain Sustainability Software

Nov. 26, 2024
Verdantix has named Avetta a leader in its 2024 Green Quadrant for Supply Chain Sustainability Software. Download the report for independent insights into market trends and top...

The Power of Benchmarking in Procurement: Driving Success and Strategic Planning

Nov. 26, 2024
Explore the strategic impact of benchmarking in procurement to drive success and plan effectively.

Additional Resources About ESG in the Supply Chain

Nov. 26, 2024
Discover over 20 valuable resources related to ESG in the supply chain, including research reports, global standards, and recommendations for managing ESG risks.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!