Europe EditionAsbestos clinic forced to close in Montana town where thousands have been sickened by dust
- On Wednesday, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office shut down the asbestos-focused health clinic in Libby, Montana, and seized its assets to satisfy a court judgment against the railroad company BNSF.
- The closure followed a 2023 lawsuit where BNSF, a Texas-based railway, alleged the clinic fraudulently qualified some patients for benefits and challenged over 2,000 diagnoses.
- The clinic served Libby, a town near an asbestos mine that exposed thousands to toxic dust, providing screenings and treatment for over 20 years while BNSF faced multiple related lawsuits.
- The court ruled 337 diagnoses false and ordered the clinic repay part of a $6 million judgment, with BNSF stating it is owed $3.1 million including fees, as spokesman Sloan confirmed legal recovery is set by law.
- Following bankruptcy and a settlement including BNSF, CARD attorney Andy Patten said BNSF's collection attempts violated the agreement, while the clinic aims to reopen and continue serving the community despite fewer current screenings.
40 Articles
40 Articles
Asbestos clinic near Montana mine forced to close
BILLINGS, Mont. — An asbestos screening clinic in a small Montana town where thousands have been sickened by toxic dust from a nearby mine has been abruptly shuttered by authorities following a court order to seize the clinic’s assets to pay off a judgment to the railroad BNSF.
Libby asbestos clinic shuttered after court order
A Libby asbestos clinic was closed Wednesday after a long court battle.The Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD) Clinic was shuttered by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday.The clinic offered screening and services to the thousands exposed to toxins from mining operations in Libby.Courts found that BNSF Railway Company was on the hook for some of the pollution.However, the company filed a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. governmen…
Associated Press News
Asbestos clinic forced to close in Montana town where thousands have been sickened by dust
An asbestos screening clinic in a Montana town where thousands have been sickened dust from a nearby mine has been shuttered by local authorities.
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