Charges Against Former W. R. Grace Exec Dropped

Federal prosecutors have dropped their case against one executive charged in the federal environmental trial against W. R. Grace.

The prosecution has stated that they do not have enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Robert C. Walsh, a former senior vice president for the company, had been charged with conspiracy and defrauding the federal government. Walsh also served as head of the company’s construction products division and also head of Specialty Chemicals.

The prosecution believed Walsh knew details of the health hazards posed by the mining efforts in Libby, as well as at a Grace processing plant located in Ohio.

However, yesterday prosecutors admitted they didn’t have enough evidence against Walsh, and asked the Judge to drop the charges against Walsh.

Judge Donald Molloy accepted the request.

This development comes hot on the heels of arguments by defense attorneys to throw the case out of court and dismiss charges against the company and the remaining five defendants.

at the end of a pivotal day in the Grace trial with defense attorneys pressing Molloy to dismiss the charges against the company and remaining defendants.

Judge Molloy berated the prosecution on Monday for presenting what he termed a “discombobulated” case.

W.R. Grace operated a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. Vermiculite mined in Libby was found to be tainted with deadly asbestos. Many residents of Libby are now suffering from asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos is linked to asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural mesothelioma.

A second location that housed a now-closed W. R. Grace facility in Hamilton Township, New Jersey has also experienced significant asbestos contamination. The site was declared an official “Brownfield” site by the Environmental Protection Agency.