Results for: Asbestos Exposure

A federal jury has determined that BNSF Railway, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, contributed to the deaths of two individuals who were exposed to asbestos decades ago through tainted mining material shipped through Libby, Montana. The jury awarded $4 million each in compensatory damages to the estates of the victims, who passed away in 2020. However, punitive damages were not granted due to a lack of evidence suggesting intentional or indifferent actions by BNSF. The trial represents the first of several lawsuits filed against the railroad company over its previous operations in the Libby community.

A federal jury in Montana has found BNSF Railway liable in the deaths of two people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago. The jury awarded $4 million each to the estates of Joyce Walder and Thomas Wells, who died in 2020. The jury determined that asbestos that spilled in the rail yard in Libby, Montana was a substantial factor in the plaintiffs’ illnesses and deaths. BNSF did not act intentionally or with indifference, so there were no punitive damages awarded. The case is the first of several lawsuits against BNSF over its past operations in Libby. Current and former residents accuse the railroad of playing a role in asbestos exposure that has killed several hundred people and sickened thousands.