Press Release
 

C.P.M.V. Cites Irony of W.R. Grace Indictment

Backs Medical Criteria/Registry Approach

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Committee to Protect Mesothelioma Victims is urging the United States Congress to keep this week's indictment of the W.R. Grace Company and seven of its executives front and center as it debates asbestos issues.

"How ironic that the indictments were announced as a United States senator was on the floor supporting legislation that would help Grace and other companies limit their liability while kicking victims out of the court system entirely," noted Sue Vento, CPMV chairperson. "These indictments remind us of how serious this problem is, how much was covered up and how some executives apparently feel that human lives were just another cost of doing business."

The CPMV notes that W.R. Grace and several of its top executives have been indicted for, among other actions, concealing from its employees and the residents of Libby, Montana the deadly nature of asbestos materials. the company's actions and likely cover-up subjected the entire community of Libby, Montana to enormous cancer risks.

The committee feels there is ample evidence that W. R. Grace was not the only company keeping such deadly secrets, and the victims in Libby are not the only ones who didn't know they were being exposed to this risk. This explains why today we have tens of millions of asbestos victims. While opponents of victims' rights would have us believe the asbestos issue is a "litigation crisis," the real problem is that we have a nationwide health crisis. It is this huge population of asbestos victims that explains why asbestos litigation is an issue compelling Congressional action.

Unfortunately, some in Congress continue to favor anti-victim legislation in the form of a "national trust fund" that, in fact, would benefit firms such as W.R. Grace. If the Congress were to pass the trust fund legislation in the form as it has been proposed by Senator Specter, W.R. Grace would see its liabilities substantially reduced.

As for victims: they would have their litigation rights eliminated by the Congress, and in turn, compelled to seek compensation from a federal bureaucracy, and they would receive amounts that deny them adequate and fair compensation. the bottom line: as W.R. Grace will continue to have its day in court, the citizens of Libby, Montana, and victims all across the country will not.

"For those who are sick or dying from asbestos right now, for those who have already died and for those who will get sick or die, we hope they have the same right to a day in court that is afforded W.R. Grace and its executives," said Chairperson Vento." These serious charges remind us that, contrary to what many believe, asbestos is still not banned in the United States, like it is in dozens of other countries. and it reminds us that we need far more research funding for the deadly diseases caused by asbestos."

Vento added, "The fact is that Sen. Specter's trust fund bill would aid W.R. Grace in civil actions even as it faces criminal action by the federal government - for the same conduct that has given rise to its civil liability! Incredibly, W.R. Grace and other companies that showed such reckless disregard for human health and lives would reap a legislative gain at the detriment of their victims.

"We urge the Congress not to make this tragic mistake."

Learn more about mesothelioma, the most deadly of the asbestos-related diseases, and about the CPMV at www.asbestostruth.org.