Montana Law Week

The Weekly Digest of Montana Law

Railroad strict liability

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RAILROAD LIABILITY: BNSF strictly liable for abnormally dangerous activity vis-à-vis hauling amphibole asbestos in Libby… evidence of Grace’s conduct admissible for background and context but not to negate liability… Eddy. [Read more…]

Lead case against Grace’s comp insurer pre-trial rulings

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LEAD CASE AGAINST GRACE’S COMP INSURER: Fact issues preclude summary judgment as to when Plaintiff knew he had ARD. . . MCC owed a duty of care to warn Zonolite and Grace of the hidden hazard of asbestos exposure, but fact issues exist as to whether it breached this duty to Plaintiff. . . Plaintiff who filed no comp claim has no common law insurance bad faith claim against MCC. . . MCC’s non-party (State, Grace) defenses precluded. . . other in limine rulings. . . Eddy. [Read more…]

$8,810,785 settlements with State

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SETTLEMENT: $7,310,785.42 to 336 MHSL Libby Mine asbestos Claimants against State with contingent $2,030,936.19 dependent on result of litigation between State and its insurer. . . $1,250,000 to 49 KS Libby Mine Claimants with contingent $400,000. . . $250,000 for individual claimant with no insurer contingency. . . 33% and 33-1/3% contingent attorney fees approved. . . Eddy. [Read more…]