Jury acquits Grace, executives

The Associated Press

MISSOULA - W.R. Grace & Co. and three former executives have been acquitted of federal charges that accused them of knowingly exposing workers to asbestos.

The jury returned its verdict Friday morning, nearly 11 weeks after hearing opening arguments.

An indictment unsealed four years ago charged that W.R. Grace and several of its one-time executives of knowingly endangering the lives of mine workers and other residents of Libby and ignoring warnings by state agencies to clean up their vermiculite mining operation.

Charges against two executives were dropped during the trial at the request of prosecutors. The jury acquitted Henry Eschenbach, Jack Wolter and Robert Bettacchi.

Gayla Benefield of Libby, who suffers health effects from asbestos exposure and lost both parents to asbestos-related lung diseases, said she doesn't know what the next step will be.

"They have gotten away with murder. That's all I can say," she said.