Decades later, asbestos-ravaged town has its day in court [View All]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- For much of the last century, people in the small town of Libby, Montana, were surrounded by toxic asbestos. It covered patches of grass, dusted the tops of cars and drifted through the air in a hazy smoke that became a part of their daily lives.

Now, after decades of suffering and watching loved ones die, area residents are getting their day in court. Federal prosecutors have begun a trial of the mining company they blame for the pollution, which doctors say left more than 1,000 people ill and more than 200 dead.

. . .

They said the town was kept in the dark about the dangers. One woman said that as kids, she and friends would light up the toxic dust and even "put it in our mouths," CNN affiliate KPAX-TV of Missoula reported.

. . .

And the indictment says W.R. Grace tried to "defraud the United States and others by impairing, impeding, and frustrating" the Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies once they launched an investigation in 1999.

. . .

If convicted, the company could face criminal fines of up to $280 million -- twice the value of its profits from the mine.

Five executives who are named as defendants could face prison time. Prosecutors plan to try a sixth executive separately.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/02/corp.pollution.trial/