The state of Montana will pay $43 million to settle claims brought by 1,128 people sickened by exposure to asbestos from a mine at Libby, court papers show.
The Daily Inter Lake newspaper in Kalispell reported Friday, however, the victims will only get a portion of the total settlement amount because law firms will get one-third off the top. Other costs also will be paid out of the settlement, as well, leaving about $27 million for the victims, the newspaper said.
The settlement was approved last week in U.S. District Court in Helena. The victims had sued a decade ago for illnesses related to their asbestos exposure linked to the former W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine at Libby.