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Sowell Gray lawyers obtained a dismissal for its client, William J. McCaig, a former manager at a W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana. McCaig, now a South Carolina resident, along with six other former employees and W.R. Grace, was charged with conspiring to knowingly violate the Clean Air Act and to defraud the United States government. After spending ten weeks presenting its case to a jury in Missoula, Montana, prosecutors determined that they did not have enough evidence to proceed any further against William J. McCaig. The prosecution moved to dismiss the case against McCaig with prejudice and the motion was promptly granted by the trial judge, allowing McCaig and his lawyers to leave the courtroom on the morning of April 30th.

Elizabeth Van Doren Gray was lead counsel along with William A. Coates, of Roe Cassidy Coates & Price of Greenville. The defense team also included Sowell Gray lawyer, Tina Cundari, and paralegal, Melissa Turner.

“I have always been confident that Mr. McCaig was innocent and that the charges were tenuous” said Gray.”The allegations dated back to the 1970s and involved conduct that was not criminal at that time. It is unfortunate that it took the government so long to realize that it simply did not have a case against our client.”

One week after the case against McCaig was dismissed, the jury returned a verdict of not-guilty as to the remaining defendants, including the corporate defendant, W.R. Grace.  “The verdict renewed my faith in the justice system,” Gray said.”This should never have been a criminal case, and the jury saw that.”

About Sowell Gray
Located in Columbia’s historic Vista district, Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte LLC provides business and litigation representation in all state and federal trial and appellate courts. Founded in 1996, the firm serves clients ranging from multi-national corporations to small businesses and individuals.