The Western MacArthur Company is a commercial and residential aislamiento products manufacturer based in St. Paul, Minnesota. MacArthur used amianto in its aislamiento for many years. This led to mesotelioma and other amianto diseases in workers and resulted in lawsuits and an amianto trust fund.
Si usted sufre de mesotelioma, asbestosis, or amianto-related lung cancer, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensación. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensación Packet, filled with information about experienced mesotelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an amianto Reclamación de fondo fiduciario y mucho más.
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Did Western MacArthur Use Asbestos?
Amianto was once a common ingredient in all kinds of aislamiento products. Before knowledge of the risks was widespread, most aislamiento manufacturers used amianto. Western MacArthur used amianto in many of its products until the late 1970s.
Western MacArthur Company History
- The company that would become Western MacArthur was established in 1913 as a small pipe insulation manufacturing company called MacArthur Company.
- In 1967, MacArthur merged with Western Asbestos and became the Western MacArthur Company.
- After the merger, the company expanded substantially and began producing a full line of insulation products, most of which it manufactured with asbestos. This continued into the 1970s when many companies had to stop using asbestos due to health risks and lawsuits.
- In addition to making its own products with asbestos, Western MacArthur distributed Johns Manville construction products. Johns Manville was one of the largest manufacturers of asbestos construction materials.
- Western MacArthur faced lawsuits over asbestos exposure and resulting illnesses in workers. The costly lawsuits led to bankruptcy in 2002.
- Western MacArthur emerged from bankruptcy reorganization in 2004 as the MacArthur Company and with a $2 billion asbestos trust fund.
- MacArthur today is an employee-owned company that makes pipe insulation and other construction products without asbestos. MacArthur does not use asbestos in its products today.
Which Western MacArthur Products Were Made With Asbestos?
Amianto was once a common material used in construction products. It was especially prevalent in aislamiento. Amianto is an effective insulator that also adds strength to materials.
Western MacArthur used amianto in the majority of its products up until the 1970s, including:
- Pipe covering
- Pipe insulation
- Duct board
- Duct wrap
- Duct tape
- Calking
- Coatings
- Fire blankets
- Commercial and residential roofing materials
Western MacArthur amianto products went into commercial and residential buildings. Johns Manville amianto products distributed by Western MacArthur were used in industrial buildings, shipyards, and public buildings like schools.
Workers at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Western MacArthur
Western MacArthur employees in the company’s manufacturing facilities were first in line to be exposed. These workers handled and worked near amianto materials, which shed fibers and caused exposure.
Construction workers were primarily affected by the distribution of Western MacArthur and Johns Manville amianto productos. Workers who could have been exposed to amianto in products sold by Western MacArthur include:
- trabajadores de la construcción
- Aisladores
- Techadores
- Fontaneros
- Instaladores de tuberías
- Obreros
- trabajadores de HVAC
- trabajadores de calderas
- trabajadores de demolición
- Shipbuilders
- Shipyard workers
- Industrial and factory workers
Western MacArthur sold many of its products to the shipbuilding industry, where aislamiento on ships was vital. This included Marina de los EE. UU. ships and shipyards.
Buques de la Armada contained so many amianto materials that veteranos now have very high rates of mesotelioma and other amianto illnesses.
Exposure to amianto en aislamiento was also a risk in homes. Homeowners with Western MacArthur or Johns Manville amianto materials in their houses could be exposed when those materials deteriorate. They could also be exposed during repair, maintenance, or renovation work.
Western MacArthur Asbestos Lawsuits
Décadas de amianto use inevitably led to exposure and illness in workers. Many workers with mesotelioma and other amianto illnesses took action and sued Western MacArthur for damages.
These are just a couple of examples of the amianto lawsuits Western MacArthur faced:
- Jack and Rose Kaminski sued Western MacArthur and other companies in 1985. Jack worked at San Francisco’s Bethlehem Shipyard during World War II and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a ship fitter’s mate and used insulated asbestos fabrics. He remembered and testified that the fabrics would often tore and relseased asbestos fibers. Jack was diagnosed with mesothelioma and ultimately won a $500,000 jury award.
- Janice Huges filed an asbestos lawsuit over the wrongful death of her husband from asbestosis and mesothelioma in 1978. He worked for Western Asbestos and was exposed to the asbestos the company used. Janice lost her initial case but won on appeal ten years later, in 1987.
Bankruptcy and Asbestos Trust Fund
By early 2000, the amount of amianto-related claims against Western MacArthur was so substantial that the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In 2004, the company emerged from bankruptcy and created the Western Amianto Asentamiento Trust.
According to the official Western Amianto Asentamiento Trust website, the fondo fiduciario is set up to compensate plaintiffs who file claims against the MacArthur Company, Western Amianto Company, and Western MacArthur Company.
The fund allows claims from those diagnosed with mesotelioma maligno, asbestosis, o cáncer de pulmón caused by amianto exposure due to products made by MacArthur, Western Amianto, or Western MacArthur.
As of February 21, 2023, the payment percentage for the Western MacArthur amianto trust is 51.1%. This is a higher payment percentage than most amianto trusts offer.
Western MacArthur Today
Western MacArthur continues to provide both commercial and residential aislamiento products and accessories, including HVAC, fireproof, waterproof, and FRP materials.
A pesar de the company no longer uses amianto in any of its products, it receives amianto-related claims to its trust fund.
How to Seek Asbestos Compensation from Western MacArthur
Talk to a abogado especializado en mesotelioma if Western MacArthur products contributed to your amianto illness. They can help you seek compensación through the trust fund and any other available options.
Even if you are unsure where you came into contact with amianto, it’s worth talking to an experienced amianto attorney. They can review your work history and find all companies that could be held liable.
Additional Help and Resources for Asbestos Victims
Use our free Amianto Attorney Locator Tool to find an experienced mesotelioma attorney in your area. Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensación Packet, filled with information on the experienced amianto y mesotelioma attorneys in your area.
