Bad for Business
Defense Attorney David M. Bernick concluded his cross-examination of former Grace employee Robert Locke this morning.
Through a series of statements to which Locke replied, “yes,” Bernick constructed an alternative explanation for Grace’s purposeful delay of the NIOSH study. Bernick stated that Grace executive vice president Elwood “Chip” Wood and W.R. Grace had opposed the study because NIOSH wanted to study vermiculite (instead of tremolite). See Defense Exhibit 230, the NIOSH proposal.
Grace opposed the study because of a “justifiable concern” that a NIOSH study of vermiculite would only stigmatize the product and the vermiculite business. Bernick stated that W.R. Grace would have been more than happy to participate in a study focused on tremolite; and in fact, when NIOSH changed its proposal to study tremolite, the executives at Grace immediately encouraged the study.
Bernick concluded with a string of examples indicating that the Government has known about the hazards of the Libby tremolite since the 1950s, but has failed to take any action for the last 60 years.
– Audrey Schultz (posted 1:20 pm)
Posted: March 26th, 2009 under Law.
Tags: Locke, NIOSH
Comments
Comment from Terry Trent
Time March 28, 2009 at 7:00 pm
60 years is a bit much, but Bernick has the right idea. Nobody knew that “asbestos” causes mesothelioma until Dr. Chris Wagner discovered it in 1960. Meso is the biggest environmental worry from amphiboles and other mineral fibers other than Chrysotile.
However, the old US Public Health service should absolutely have known that “mineral fibers” cause lung disease, since the ancient Greeks even knew that over 2,000 years ago.
TTrent
Comment from Mike Crill Missoula,Mt
Time March 29, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Kinda nutty that I moved to Libby in 1966.Worked for murderous WR disGrace in the 70s and diagnosed in 1999. Alive to attend WR disGrace trial 2009. Now all I need is a guilty verdict and a whole bunch of money.ASAP…
Comment from Mike Crill Missoula,Mt
Time March 26, 2009 at 12:41 pm
But you know, WR disGrace produced it and the Rail Road transported it and it was sold to people, who inhales/swallowed it. I hope to hear some testimony from the Railroad. The trial of sickness and death left by the Railroad all over this country, has killed thousands also.Still killing people today just for living next to the railroad.See Meso in Montana.A study done from 1979 to 2002 showing all the Meso deaths along the railroad routes out of Libby. The study shows 200 Meso cases. Just in the State of Montana. Such a small percentage of the truth.They do not mention the thousands/millions who have asbestos related disease… I would figure that knowing all this in 1979 and before, many many human beings could of and should of been told/protected/saved.Why the hell not?? Railroad needs to be the next trial. When is Libby going to stop killing more people.What is Govt waiting for…the WR Grace Guilty verdict? We already know the truth.