UM Grace Case

 Defense attorney David Bernick concluded the defense case by calling the EPA’s Libby On-Site Coordinator, Paul Peronard, back to the stand. Bernick and Peronard sparred for over an hour, with Bernick asking questions regarding EPA Region 8’s role within the larger agency.
Bernick showed Peronard several letters and memoranda to, from, and between EPA employees and [...]

Defense attorneys put 4 witnesses on the stand and introduced 14+ exhibits this morning to demonstrate how W.R. Grace acted to reduce dust and asbestos exposure at the Libby mine and mill over the years of its operation by Grace.
First was Randy Geiger, environmental engineer for Grace, who testified to Grace’s continuing and successful efforts [...]

Defense attorney Walter Lancaster continued questioning of former W.R. Grace employee Randy Geiger.  Mr. Geiger was in charge of pollution control and conducted air quality sampling at Libby from 1976 to the mid 1980s.  Mr. Lancaster’s questioning focused on how air samples were taken and the results of those tests.  A number of pollution control [...]

Judge Molloy’s questions continued in the early afternoon in much the same fashion as in the morning. He made sure to focus on each potential juror’s exposure to Grace trial-related media (especially in the past few days), as well as other questions raised by the juror questionnaires. As he questioned them, he worked [...]