Vermont Supreme Court: Landowner Can Sue Mine President

The Vermont Supreme Court says a landowner can sue the president of the Vermont Asbestos Group over contamination on property next to a former asbestos mine in Eden and Lowell.

The Supreme Court on Friday overruled a lower court’s decision, saying there are some actions in which both corporation and corporate officers can be held liable.

Leonard Prive had sued president Howard Manosh for asbestos contamination of his soil, ponds and wetlands, which the state said was likely caused by a large pile of waste rock at the mine, which closed in 1993.

Prive said in his suit that Manosh was personally liable because he allegedly directed where the waste rock pile should be placed and how it would be contained.