UM Grace Case

Court began this morning with the continued cross-examination of government witness and former Grace financial analyst James Becker. Several defense attorneys questioned Becker throughout the morning, quickly reviewing several documents and memos.

David Bernick, defense attorney for W.R. Grace, completed the cross-examination he suspended Monday evening, asking Becker about several memos outlining test results from Agway. Bernick asked Becker if he had seen several of the documents referred to in his direct examination. Bernick said that the government did not show Becker certain documents. Becker said, “We looked at a lot of documents. I honestly don’t know if they showed this to me or not.”

Carolyn Kubota, attorney for defendant Jack Wolter, began her cross examination working through several memos, establishing a chain of command. “Jack Wolter was moving forward aggressively on dust measure regulations,” Kubota said.

Kubota also showed four categories of dust control measures she said Wolter had implemented in Grace’s Libby operations. She mentioned that the Early Bird Farm is located in her hometown of Ithaca, N.Y., before wrapping up her cross-examination.David S. Krakoff, who represents defendant Henry Eschenbach, began his cross-examination, mentioning that he attended the same college as Becker and graduated a few years after him in 1971.

During his questioning, Krakoff used a whiteboard angled so that courtroom spectators were unable to see, though Becker and the jury had a clear view.Krakoff spoke about exhibit 57a, the first page of Becker’s decision tree. Krakoff asked Becker if the government had discussed with him that other agencies already knew about the effects of tremolite, before ending his cross-examination.Court recessed for the mid-morning break at 9:57.

–Kalie Tenenbaum (posted 10:15 a.m.)