Montana Articles

Libby, MT: According to Mike Crill, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "screwed up big time" by covering up potentially asbestos-contaminated wood chips in Libby. "I know that millions of dollars have been spent cleaning up this town but that doesn't resolve the issue of people being exposed to asbestos," says Mike. "Government officials have downplayed asbestos mesothelioma since they came to Libby."

Billings, MT: Residents near Laurel, Montana were temporarily evacuated Saturday morning after an ExxonMobile crude oil pipeline ruptured and caused an unknown amount of oil to spill into the waterway. The pipeline, which runs under the Yellowstone River near Billings in south-central Montana, apparently leaked for about 30 minutes.

Libby, MT: If there were ever such a thing as an asbestosis ''headquarters,'' that would have been the town of Libby, Montana. And two years after W.R. Grace managed to escape prosecution from criminal charges relating to asbestos contamination of the town, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deemed that the air above Libby is now safe.

Washington, DC: Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. (“Del Monte Fresh”) of Coral Gables, Florida is recalling 4,992 cartons of cantaloupes, each containing 4 plastic mesh sleeves with 3 cantaloupes per sleeve, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Panama, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella Panama often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella Panama can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Washington, DC: USA Far Ocean Group is conducting a nationwide recall of the Company's supplement product sold under the name “U-Prosta Natural support for prostate health”. The Company has been informed by representatives of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that lab analysis by FDA of U-Prosta samples found the product contains terazosin, the active ingredient of an FDA-approved drug used to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), making U-Prosta an unapproved drug.

Washington, DC: WorldVariety Produce, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is recalling Serrano Peppers, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Washington, DC: Creekstone Farms Premium Beef is recalling approximately 14,158 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

Helena, MO: Lawsuits have been filed alleging that Accutane acne medication has caused serious adverse side effects, including depression and inflammatory bowel disease. One recent study, however, suggests that Accutane medication may not be linked to depression.

Billings, MT: A Park County Sheriff's Deputy who successfully filed a wrongful termination lawsuit after being fired for insubordination in 2007 has seen the ruling upheld by the Montana Supreme Court.

Helena, MT: A jury in Montana recently ordered the makers of the legendary Louis Slugger baseball bats to pay the Patch family $850,000 in a wrongful death and product liability suit the family never expected win. "When we were talking to them after they had no idea how much they had won," says attorney Michael Kauffman from Drake Law Firm. "I think hope the money will go towards what they want to achieve. They don't want another family to go through what they went through."