Weil-McLain Company

Both Benjamin and Isadora Weil established Weil-McLain in 1881. The company was later known as Weil Brothers. In 1918, the company acquired J.H. McLain Company and changed its company name to Weil-McLain. The newly formed Weil-McLain saw success and innovated due to the company’s boiler and heating system. In developing its new products, Weil-McLain began including asbestos in the 1950s. Weil-McLain placed asbestos in its products for two decades, which resulted in thousands of lawsuits involving asbestos exposure.

Weil-McLain began its operation under the name of Weil Brothers. The company began as a small wholesale heating and plumbing operation in Chicago in the 1880s.

The founders later purchased one of their main suppliers, which was located in Canton, Ohio. The acquisition of this company led to a change in the company’s name with the business becoming Weil-McLain in 1919 and relocated from Chicago and Canton to Indiana.

While located in Indiana, the Weil-McLain company prospered and saw countless successes, which included developing the first smokeless coal boiler in the country.

In World War II, Weil-McLain contributed to the company’s efforts in the war by manufacturing boilers, tank treads, tank turret rings, and clutch throw-out brackets.

Following World War II, Weil-McLain began utilizing asbestos throughout the production process. The company utilized asbestos within its heating products to avoid overheating. The company’s decisions to place asbestos in products led to thousands of people being exposed to asbestos. Consequently, Weil-McLain has been named in thousands of asbestos lawsuits.

Some of the products manufactured by Weil-McLain known to contain asbestos include air cell insulations, dresser asbestos gaskets, asbestos cementers, and oil heating units. Some of the workers at Weil-McLain exposed to the hazard of asbestos include boilermakers, millwrights, engineers, plumbers, welders, and pipefitters.

Weil-McLain has been involved in a larger number of lawsuits connected to the manufacture of products containing asbestos. Unlike many companies that manufactured asbestos, Weil-McLain has compensated successful parties with its funds and is yet to establish an asbestos trust fund.

One of the biggest cases initiated against Weil-McLain was launched by a pipefitter who had been employed from 1969 throughout the 1970s. The man was employed by a company that primarily utilized Weil-McLain boilers. The man was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2014 and stated that he was exposed to asbestos from the company’s boilers. The man and his son were later awarded over $7 million in the case initiated against Weil-McLain. While the man passed away before compensation was awarded, his son received $1.5 million for previously lost service, guidance, parental training, and companionship. Additionally, the son was awarded $4.2 million for future losses.

Weil-McLain continues to be involved in lawsuits addressing asbestos exposure.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Weil-McLain. Do not hesitate to contact the Throneberry Law Group to schedule a free case evaluation.