Special Montana court to oversee hundreds of deadly asbestos claims
HELENA – The Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the creation of a special court to oversee hundreds of claims filed on behalf of people who became ill or died following exposure to asbestos from the now-closed W.R. Grace Inc. vermiculite mine in northwestern Montana.
With at least 540 lawsuits pending and Grace’s bankruptcy proceedings complete, justices said there was sufficient need to create the Asbestos Claims Court under an act passed by lawmakers in 2001.
The court appointed District Judge Amy Eddy of Kalispell to oversee pretrial proceedings. She said she will set trial management plans for the scientifically and medically complicated cases, many of which date to the early 2000s.
“It’s an enormous responsibility and we need to bring resolution for all these claimants and the defendants,” Eddy said.
Read more: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/nov/28/montana-asbestos-court-to-oversee-hundreds-of-clai/#/0
