W.R. Grace Criminal Trial in Montana – Live Coverage

Students from The University of Montana are providing online coverage of the trial of chemical giant W.R. Grace in what is being called the most extensive environmental criminal trial in U.S. history.

Communities in Montana and around the country were exposed to asbestos vermiculite that W.R. Grace mined and shipped from Libby, Montana. Now, through a live blog created by students from the UM schools of law and journalism, anyone can follow what’s going on in the courtroom and as W.R. Grace executives face criminal charges of knowingly endangering lives by hiding the health risks of asbestos.

The trial and blog coverage are scheduled to begin with jury selection on Thursday, Feb. 19, in U.S. District Court in Missoula, Montana.

“This trial is one of the most complex and creative criminal prosecutions in the history of environmental regulation,” said Andrew King-Ries, an assistant professor at the UM School of Law. “Students working on this case will provide an important service, making the legal twists and turns accessible and understandable.”

At issue is whether W.R. Grace and the five employees on trial knowingly endangered the lives of people who worked with and lived near asbestos mine facilities that mined, processed and shipped the ore from Zonolite Mountain in Libby.

For the duration of the trial, the students will provide dispatches from the courtroom, as well as background and issue articles and multimedia presentations on their blog,

Grace Case

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Since W.R. Grace shipped asbestos materials across the country, the implications of the trial are far-reaching. Asbestos from Libby was shipped to 236 locations in 39 states.

“We hope to offer access to the trial to the far-flung communities that handled W.R. Grace ore,” said Nadia White, an assistant professor of journalism at UM. “Asbestos-contaminated ore was shipped throughout the country from Montana. We’d like to give people in those communities a chance to peer back into this state to decide for themselves whether justice is being served.”

For more information about the project, visit the blog at Grace Case, follow the case on Twitter at UMGraceCase, #GraceCase.