W.R. Grace & Co., the bankrupt chemical and construction materials company, harmed “hundreds if not thousands” of people by illegally releasing asbestos in and around its vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, a federal prosecutor told jurors. “This case is about a company that mined and manufactured a hazardous product and individual executives that chose profits at the expense of people’s health and chose avoiding liability over disclosing the health hazards to the government,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kris McLean said today at the opening of a federal court trial... [includes summary of company attorney's opening statement]