United States Plywood Corporation

While now defunct, the United States Plywood Corporation was established in 1937 and marked the consolidation of three smaller companies that dealt in the industries of constructing paper, building materials, and packaging materials.

Unfortunately, in its various permutations over the years, the United States Plywood Corporation exposed a large number of people to the danger of asbestos. Scientific research shows that several decades following exposure to asbestos, many people can end up contracting mesothelioma, asbestosis, and several other deadly illnesses.

United States Plywood participates in the manufacture of building materials, paper, and packaging materials. American Plywood was established in 1937 as U.S. Plywood Corporation.

In 1967, the United States Plywood company combined with Champion Papers and became U.S. Plywood – Champion Papers. In 1972, the name of the corporate venture was changed to Champion International. The company was later purchased and subsumed by its competitor, International Paper Company in 2000.

The much better-known International Paper Company had been around for much longer and by 1900 was producing 60% of all newsprint in the United States. Over the years, the company was involved in countless lawsuits including many where former workers developed asbestos following exposure to asbestos while working at International Paper Company plants.

Currently, the remains of United States Plywood Corporation, the International Paper Company, and associated affiliates have over 50,000 workers. In 2018, the company reported having more than $20 billion in its revenue despite the continued presence of asbestos claims by former workers against the company.

International Paper Company (and also United States Plywood and its affiliates) continue to face legal action from workers over asbestos None of these affiliates is yet to open an asbestos trust.

U.S. Plywood did not place asbestos directly in its paper products. Instead, United States Plywood’s facilities contained asbestos. United States Plywood and many similar companies relied on asbestos insulation due to the material’s low cost and durable nature. These companies placed asbestos in the walls as well as the floors. To further combat the risk of fire spreading, many companies also utilized asbestos roofing shingles as well as asbestos siding.

Employees at U.S.Plywood as well as affiliates like the International Paper Company commonly came into contact with asbestos when working around damaged insulation that contained the material. In the 1980s, the International Paper Workers Union performed an analysis of asbestos-associated illnesses among previous Paper Company workers and determined that the disease existed in more than three halves-of its former workers.

Some of the specific workers at United States Plywood and International Paper who came into contact with asbestos include boilermakers, drywall installers, construction workers, installation workers, painters, and maintenance workers.

If you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Plywood, you should not hesitate to speak with a skilled lawyer at the Throneberry Law Group. Contact our law office today to schedule a free case evaluation.