Settlement for Libby, Montana Victims?
Over 400 have died and thousands have become ill following decades of exposure to asbestos from the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. The mine closed in 1999, and over $300 million has been spent on cleanup in recent years. Notices obtained by The Associated Press show at least 1,125 victims are considering a $43 million settlement that calls for payments ranging from $21,500 to $60,700, depending on the severity of their illness. Court approval is required before the settlement is final.
In 2004, the Montana Supreme Court said the state should have warned miners about hazards identified by state officials in Libby in the 1950s.