Montana Judge Affirms $30M Asbestos Punitive Award Against W.R. Grace Insurer

Mealey's (January 13, 2023, 8:51 AM EST) -- GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Saying that a workers’ compensation insurer was aware of the dangers of asbestos and knew or intentionally disregarded the fact that if it didn’t step in, workers at W.R. Grace’s Libby, Mont., vermiculite mine would be exposed with “truly catastrophic” consequences, a Montana judge found a jury’s $30 million punitive damages award appropriate and the conduct sufficient to exceed the state’s $10 million cap....