Libby asbestos worker wins historic $36.5M award from Cascade County jury

[TexasTowelie]

Ralph Hutt worked at the W.R. Grace Co. vermiculite mill in Libby for just 18 months in 1968 and 1969.

His father helped him get the job.

Originally, he was given a paper mask to fight against the hazy, dusty conditions.

The paper mask, not so unlike today’s COVID-19 masks, quickly became overloaded with dust.

When he asked his supervisor about it, Hutt was told not to worry – it was just dust.

Read more: https://dailymontanan.com/2022/02/18/libby-asbestos-worker-wins-historic-36-5m-award-from-cascade-county-jury/

[sheshe2]

1. That is how my brother in law died.

One year from diagnosis to death. He was early 60's.

[rsdsharp]

2. This is interesting. WR Grace was a major defendant in asbestos cases

back in the late 80s when I first got involved in asbestos cases. They declared bankruptcy years ago, so the weren’t being named as a defendant when I retired a couple of years ago, nor for years prior to that.

WR Grace sold Zonolite, a spray on asbestos covering used to insulate structural beams in buildings, among other applications. It was nasty stuff. With this ruling, WR Grace exposure might be a thing again.

[cilla4progress]

3. I have a friend who

grew up there.

So Hutt opted out of a class action and won this jury award?!

[jalan48]

4. I knew someone who lived in Libby while the mine was active. People put vermiculite in their walls

for insulation and apparantly it was spread out on the local baseball fields for fill.