Amidst a legal dispute, BNSF Railway is set to defend itself against allegations surrounding the deaths of two former residents of Libby, Montana, a town tainted by asbestos contamination. Attorneys for the railway, owned by Warren Buffett, argue that the company’s predecessors were unaware of the hazardous nature of the vermiculite they transported from a nearby mine, which contained microscopic asbestos fibers.
This trial marks the beginning of numerous lawsuits against the railroad corporation, with residents seeking accountability for the asbestos exposure linked to hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses in the small Montana town near the U.S.-Canada border.
The shadow of W.R. Grace & Co., the mining company responsible for the vermiculite mine near Libby, looms over the proceedings. While the company has faced legal repercussions and settlements for its role in the tragedy, the focus remains on BNSF’s conduct rather than Grace’s separate liability.
Disputes arise over how much W.R. Grace disclosed about the asbestos risks to BNSF and its predecessors. Former railroad workers claim ignorance of the dangers, attributing responsibility to Grace employees for loading and handling the vermiculite.
However, plaintiffs argue that BNSF should have been aware of the risks, pointing to warning labels on rail cars and conferences discussing dust diseases attended by company executives.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s intervention in Libby followed news reports in 1999, eventually declaring a public health emergency in 2009. While cleanup efforts have progressed, the legacy of asbestos-related diseases continues to haunt the community, with families attributing the deaths of their loved ones to exposure from the rail yard.
As the legal battle unfolds, the tragic consequences of asbestos exposure underscore the importance of corporate accountability and public health awareness.
