The M.H. Detrick Company made its industrial refractory products and insulation with asbestos until the 1960s. The company faced numerous claims over asbestos exposure and resulting illnesses. M.H. Detrick filed for bankruptcy in 1998 and set up an asbestos trust fund that is now closed.
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Did M.H. Detrick Use Asbestos?
M.H. Detrick manufactures refractory and insulation products, materials that must withstand high temperatures or reduce heat losses. M.H. Detrick made these products with asbestos in the past, from the 1930s to the 1960s.
M.H. Detrick History
- Founded in 1925, the M.H. Detrick Company started in Illinois as a heat enclosure manufacturer.
- The company began as a relatively small business. It quickly became an industry leader in heat enclosures and began adding various heat enclosure products to its lines, such as refractory linings and steel.
- Refractory tiles helped make M.H. Detrick successful. Refractory tiles (also known as fire bricks) withstand very high temperatures and are used in furnaces, fireplaces, heat enclosures, and kilns. The company used asbestos to make these products resistant to heat and fire.
- M.H. Detrick used asbestos in its products, leading to thousands of asbestos-related claims. Court documents indicate that M.H. Detrick relied on asbestos from the 1930s until the mid-1960s.
- The claims filed against M.H. Detrick led to its bankruptcy and the foundation of an asbestos trust fund that is now closed.
- Today, M.H. Detrick continues to operate from headquarters in Frankfurt, Illinois. It still makes high-temperature products but no longer uses asbestos.
M.H. Detrick Asbestos-Containing Products
For over 20 years, M.H. Detrick manufactured numerous products that contained asbestos, including the following:
- Mineral wool block
- Insulating cement
- Finishing cement
- Fireproofing cement
- Asbestos rope
- Detroc asbestos board
- Casing cement
- Plastic and block insulation
- Hitherm (insulation brand)
- Asbestolux (wall and ceiling board brand)
- Super 711 (sealant brand)
- Permiseal (waterproofing brand)
- Boiler coatings
- Pipe covering
- Hilite insulating and finishing cement
- Permaseal
- Therman coat
- Fibrous adhesive
- Asbestos rope
- Block insulation
Occupations Affected by M.H. Detrick Asbestos Products
Asbestos products cause exposure when they shed fibers that workers handling or working near them can inhale. Inhaled asbestos fibers cause damage inside the body and may cause or contribute to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or other illnesses.
M.H. Detrick employees who worked in its manufacturing facilities faced high risks of asbestos exposure. They handled or worked near asbestos that likely shed fibers.
Many other workers in various industries faced exposure risks from M.H. Detrick asbestos products. These workers handled, installed, repaired, or worked near asbestos products.
Occupations and industries at risk of exposure from M.H. Detrick asbestos products include:
- Steelworkers
- Construction workers
- Boiler workers
- Insulators
- Metal workers
- Chemical plant workers
- Power plant workers
- Oil refinery workers
- Shipyard workers
- U.S. Navy
M.H. Detrick supplied the U.S. Navy with asbestos products, putting veterans at risk of exposure and illness. Navy veterans have high rates of mesothelioma because so many asbestos products went into building Navy ships.
M.H. Detrick Asbestos Claims
M.H. Detrick’s use of asbestos in so many products led to exposure, illnesses, and asbestos claims. Beginning in the 1980s, the company faced thousands of costly claims brought by exposure victims and their families seeking damages.
In one claim, Wesley Roberts and his wife sued M.H. Detrick and other asbestos companies. Roberts died from mesothelioma due to workplace asbestos exposure. He worked as a pipefitter in oil refineries. His widow received damages through the claim.
Bankruptcy and Asbestos Trust Fund
M.H. Detrick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998 due to the high costs of asbestos claims.
Part of the company’s bankruptcy agreement included creating an asbestos trust fund to compensate for any pending and future asbestos-related claims.
On August 21, 2002, after M.H. Detrick emerged from bankruptcy, it established the M. H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust.
Under Sections 101(5) and 524(g)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code, the asbestos trust assumed all asbestos-related claims against M.H. Detrick. The company placed a total of $3 million in the trust in 2002. The asbestos trust fund closed in 2011 and no longer accepts claims.
M.H. Detrick Today
M.H. Detrick is still in operation today and based out of Mokena, Illinois. The company focuses on refractory heat enclosures and still provides insulation, pre-fired brick, and heat-resistant castings.
M.H. Detrick no longer uses asbestos in any of its products.
What to Do if You Were Exposed to M.H. Detric Asbestos Products
If you think you were exposed to asbestos, talk to your doctor. Early screenings and diagnosis for asbestos illnesses are essential for the best outcomes.
Contact a mesothelioma lawyer if you worked with M.H. Detrick products with asbestos. They can help you find options for seeking compensation if you get sick. The M.H. Detrick asbestos trust is closed, but there may be other ways to get compensation, depending on your work history.
Additional Information for Asbestos Victims
Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
References
View All ReferencesM.H. Detrick Company Asbestos FAQs
Did M.H. Detrick Company make products that contained asbestos?
Yes. M.H. Detrick Company is among the companies linked to asbestos exposure. The specific products involved, and the years they contained asbestos, are described above on this page. Workers who handled or worked near those products, and in some cases their family members, could have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
Can I get compensation for M.H. Detrick Company asbestos exposure?
Possibly. If you were exposed to M.H. Detrick Company asbestos products and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be able to recover compensation. Depending on the company’s status, that can come through a claim, a bankruptcy trust claim, or both. A free case review can confirm which options apply to your exposure.
How do I prove asbestos exposure from M.H. Detrick Company?
Exposure is usually documented with your work history, identification of the specific products, the job sites and dates involved, co-worker statements, and your medical records. An asbestos attorney gathers this evidence for you. Speak with a mesothelioma lawyer at no cost to get started.