HELENA, Mont. (AP) — BNSF Railway attorneys are expected to argue before jurors Friday that the railroad should not be held liable for the lung cancer deaths of two former residents of an asbestos-contaminated Montana town, one of the deadliest sites in the federal Superfund pollution program.
Attorneys for the company say the corporate predecessors of the railroad, owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, didn’t know the vermiculite they hauled over decades from a nearby mine was filled with hazardous microscopic asbestos fibers.
The case in federal civil court over the two deaths is the first of numerous lawsuits against the Texas-based railroad corporation to reach trial over its past operations in Libby, Montana. Current and former residents of the small town near the U.S.-Canada border want BNSF held accountable for its alleged role in asbestos exposure that health officials say has killed several hundred people and sickened thousands.
Jimmy Carr sparks speculation he may have become a father for the second time
EU mulls boosting military spending, relying less on U.S.
Advisers to maintain focus on modernization, CPPCC says
Xi visits political advisors, joins discussion at annual session
A former Russian tycoon who once led separatist region launches a hunger strike in Azerbaijan jail
Xi emphasizes need to develop new quality productive forces
TDSL prepares 27 proposals to share at upcoming two sessions
Chinese Embassy deplores Romania's rejection of Huawei's 5G equipment authorization
Ruud advances to Barcelona semis after beating Arnaldi in straight sets
France guarantees right of abortion
Arizona State hit with NCAA sanctions for improper football recruiting visits during pandemic
Patrols near Kinmen 'beyond reproach'