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. . . .