More than three years after the government indicted W.R. Grace and Company and several of its executives in the most controversial asbestos case ever to hit the U.S. courts, pre-trial issues continue to stall the start of the trial.
According to a news story aired on KPAX-TV, Grace’s newest petition involves the specific asbestos fibers found in Libby. The company argues that since the form of asbestos found in Libby was not a regulated type of the mineral, the government should not be allowed to build a case around them.
Company officials also attempted to get the court to throw out one of the government’s charges, which states that the executives knew they were putting the residents of Libby in danger. That specific charge was filed twice and the defendants argue that the amended or superceding indictment missed a deadline.
“On May 23rd the Justice Department filed its response brief, arguing that the high court does not need to review the case and defending both the asbestos issue, and the timeliness of the superceding indictment,†the story noted, believing the court’s decision speaks to its desire to finally get the case to trial.
