MISSOULA – Federal prosecutors Monday moved to dismiss charges against the final defendant in the Libby asbestos trial, a month after a Montana jury acquitted several of his former co-workers.
O. Mario Favorito was one of several former W.R. Grace & Co. employees accused of criminally conspiring to cover up the health risks of asbestos contamination from the Maryland-based company’s asbestos mining operations in Libby.
Favorito had held a number of positions while working for Grace, including corporate legal counsel and the company’s chief group counsel.
Favorito’s case was severed from the others in July 2006. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy ruled that Favorito would be tried separately because nearly all of his conduct was protected by Grace’s attorney-client privilege.
Favorito had been scheduled to go on trial in September.