The Western MacArthur Company is a commercial and residential insulation products manufacturer based in St. Paul, Minnesota. MacArthur used asbestos in its insulation for many years. This led to mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases in workers and resulted in lawsuits and an asbestos trust fund.
If you suffer from mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
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Did Western MacArthur Use Asbestos?
Asbestos was once a common ingredient in all kinds of insulation products. Before knowledge of the risks was widespread, most insulation manufacturers used asbestos. Western MacArthur used asbestos 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?
Asbestos was once a common material used in construction products. It was especially prevalent in insulation. Asbestos is an effective insulator that also adds strength to materials.
Western MacArthur used asbestos 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 asbestos products went into commercial and residential buildings. Johns Manville asbestos 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 asbestos materials, which shed fibers and caused exposure.
Construction workers were primarily affected by the distribution of Western MacArthur and Johns Manville asbestos products. Workers who could have been exposed to asbestos in products sold by Western MacArthur include:
- Construction workers
- Insulators
- Roofers
- Plumbers
- Pipefitters
- Laborers
- HVAC workers
- Boiler workers
- Demolition workers
- Shipbuilders
- Shipyard workers
- Industrial and factory workers
Western MacArthur sold many of its products to the shipbuilding industry, where insulation on ships was vital. This included U.S. Navy ships and shipyards.
Navy ships contained so many asbestos materials that veterans now have very high rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses.
Exposure to asbestos in insulation was also a risk in homes. Homeowners with Western MacArthur or Johns Manville asbestos 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
Decades of asbestos use inevitably led to exposure and illness in workers. Many workers with mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses took action and sued Western MacArthur for damages.
These are just a couple of examples of the asbestos 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 asbestos-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 Asbestos Settlement Trust.
According to the official Western Asbestos Settlement Trust website, the trust fund is set up to compensate plaintiffs who file claims against the MacArthur Company, Western Asbestos Company, and Western MacArthur Company.
The fund allows claims from those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure due to products made by MacArthur, Western Asbestos, or Western MacArthur.
As of February 21, 2023, the payment percentage for the Western MacArthur asbestos trust is 51.1%. This is a higher payment percentage than most asbestos trusts offer.
Western MacArthur Today
Western MacArthur continues to provide both commercial and residential insulation products and accessories, including HVAC, fireproof, waterproof, and FRP materials.
Although the company no longer uses asbestos in any of its products, it receives asbestos-related claims to its trust fund.
How to Seek Asbestos Compensation from Western MacArthur
Talk to a mesothelioma lawyer if Western MacArthur products contributed to your asbestos illness. They can help you seek compensation through the trust fund and any other available options.
Even if you are unsure where you came into contact with asbestos, it’s worth talking to an experienced asbestos 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 Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find an experienced mesothelioma attorney in your area. 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.
