On Monday, the Supreme Court denied an appeal by W.R. Grace Company. This paves the way for a criminal trial against the company. In 2005 the company and several officers were indicted on charge related to improper disposal of asbestos-containing materials which was linked to many residents of Libby who are either currently suffering asbestos-related disease or who have died from such diseases.
The executives could be facing fifteen years in prison if convicted and the company could be facing up to 280 million dollars in restitution costs. W.R. Grace had already agreed to refund to the federal government 250 million dollars to cover decontamination costs in Libby. It has been estimated that W.R. Grace could, by the time the criminal trial is over, be paying out over a billion dollars.
“We will be prepared to defend ourselves,” stated Grace Spokesman Greg Euston.
Asbestos exposure has been conclusively linked to the onset of mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer that has a survival rate of less than 1%.
