Grace trial date set

The Daily Inter lake

Trial has been set for May 15, 2006, in the federal conspiracy case against W.R. Grace and Co. and seven of its top executives.

The trial date was established at a pretrial conference Wednesday before Chief Judge Donald W. Molloy in Missoula, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Bill Mercer.

The company and its executives are accused of violating federal laws in connection with Grace's operation of a vermiculite mine in Libby.

The seven individual defendants - William McCaig, Alan Stringer, Henry Eschenbach, Jack Wolter, Robert Bettacchi, Mario Favorito and Robert Walsh - have pleaded innocent.

They are accused of hiding the health risks of toxic asbestos associated with the vermiculite mine. The charges include conspiracy, Clean Air Act violations, wire fraud and obstruction of justice.

More than 200 deaths have been linked to asbestos in Libby and more than 1,500 people are being treated for asbestos-related health problems.