Asbestos clinic closes after court order in Montana
- An asbestos screening clinic in Libby, Montana, was closed following a court order to seize its assets to repay a judgment to BNSF Railway.
- Thousands in the local community have been affected by asbestos-related illnesses due to pollution from a nearby mine.
- The closure compromises public health efforts in Libby, as fewer screenings for asbestos-related health issues will be available.
In Montana, an asbestos screening clinic known for assisting victims of asbestos-related diseases has been shut down by local authorities due to a legal ruling. This closure, which took place recently, was enforced by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office following a court’s order to seize the clinic's assets. The Center for Asbestos Related Disease, located in Libby, a town with a history of asbestos exposure stemming from a nearby mine, had been crucial in providing screenings and support to the thousands affected by the toxic dust. The legal battle stems from a lawsuit brought by the BNSF Railway, which alleged that the clinic fraudulently diagnosed patients in order to qualify them for government benefits. In a recent 2023 ruling, the clinic was found liable for misdiagnosing over 2,000 patients, with 337 diagnoses being deemed false. The court ordered the clinic to pay a judgment of $6 million, a sum which BNSF claims it is entitled to collect due to its role in the pollution that affected the community. As a consequence of these legal challenges, the clinic declared bankruptcy after the adverse judgment was issued. Though they continued operations, they failed to pay the required amount under a bankruptcy settlement that had been negotiated with the federal government and included BNSF. The clinic’s bankruptcy attorney argued that BNSF's efforts to enforce the fraud judgment violated this settlement, complicating the situation further. The abrupt closure of the clinic poses significant challenges for public health in Libby, as many residents rely on its services for asbestos screenings and related health problems. The clinic's Executive Director, Tracy McNew, emphasized the negative implications this closure would have on the local community. She expressed a commitment to their patients and a desire to fight for the clinic's reopening. Local authorities and BNSF’s allegations have put an important health resource at risk at a time when the community still suffers from the long-term effects of asbestos exposure, demonstrating the intertwined issues of health, legality, and community support in the face of a environmental disaster.