W.R. Grace sued for toxic asbestos pollution

2009-03-21 02:48:19 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Mesothelioma Asbestos)

W.R. Grace sued for toxic asbestos pollution sickening 1,000 and killing 200.

Chicago, IL (JusticeNewsFlash.com)–CNN recently reported prosecuting attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) www.doj.gov have begun trial in court before a federal judge in Missoula, Montana against W.R. Grace & Company. Until 1990, W.R. Grace owned and operated a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana which was highly contaminated with tremolite asbestos a substance produced by mining vermiculite. Testimony and arguments, for one of the most significant environmental criminal cases in U.S. history, alleging over 1,000 people have been seriously injured and more than 200 have died from corporate wrong doing began lase week in federal court.

A federal grand jury handed down a 10 count indictment against the vermiculite mining company, which massively exposed workers and residents to asbestos products for decades. The indictment brought by lawyers for the federal government alleges W.R. Grace conspired to “knowingly release” asbestos, hid asbestos exposure dangers from employees and town residents, subjected mine workers to mesothelioma cancer causing agents, and failed to provide protective work place respiratory gear. The federal criminal tort claims the vermiculite mine managers and company executives violated multiple federal and state laws including guidelines handed down by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.epa.gov, and further charges the company leaders with wire fraud and obstruction of justice.

Vermiculite is a substance used to make numerous products including insulation and fertilizers and is contaminated with tremolite asbestos. Direct and secondary exposure to asbestos products typically leads to life long respiratory illnesses and many other diseases including mesothelioma lung cancer. Mesothelioma cancer is a terminal condition affecting various organs and tissues of the body, most commonly the lungs. There are currently few available mesothelioma cancer treatments available, and according to doctors and nurses specializing in mesothelioma cancer treatment there is no known cure.

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