Western Macarthur

From 1913 to the late 1970s, Western MacArthur manufactured asbestos pipe covering. Financial hardships as the result of asbestos litigation led to the company filing for bankruptcy in 2002. Shortly after, in 2004, a trust fund was created with $2 billion to compensate the victims of asbestos-related diseases caused by products at Western Macarthur or working at the company. Still in existence, the Western Macarthur company today distributes insulation materials as well as HVAC products, roofing, siding, and windows. Headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Western Macarthur has 50 locations throughout the United States.

In 1913, the Macarthur Company began using asbestos as a covering for pipes. Later, in the 1960s, the Macarthur Company merged with Western Asbestos to form Western Macarthur. While the Macarthur Company distributed asbestos products around the midwest, the Western Asbestos Company served the west coast, particularly shipyards in California. The company continued manufacturing asbestos-containing products until the late 1970s. Despite the health concerns presented by asbestos exposure, companies found asbestos an attractive material due to its heat-resistant and durable nature.

After filing for bankruptcy in November 2002, the company established the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust in 2004 which contained $2 billion to compensate both outstanding and future asbestos claims. After receiving its first claim in August 2004, the trust as of June 2018 has received more than 14,740 claims and compensated 10,071 of these claims. In 2019, the trust increased its payment percentage to 51.1% of claims. While this might not represent the full extent of a victim’s asbestos-related damage, this percentage is substantially higher than the amount of compensation paid out by many other asbestos trusts.

Western Macarthur used asbestos in various products manufactured by the company. Some of these products include:

• Insulation cement
• Low-pressure pipe cover
• Unifil vermiculite insulation

Some of the workers who are most at risk of being exposed to Western Macarthur asbestos-containing products include boiler workers, construction workers, electricians, factory workers, insulators, machinists, maintenance workers, power plant workers, and plumbers. Additionally, individuals who lived close to Western Macarthur manufacturing facilities are also at risk of coming into contact with asbestos products.

Thousands of lawsuits have been brought against Western Macarthur. One case involved the widow of an asbestos worker who initiated a wrongful death claim after her husband passed away from mesothelioma in 1987. After several decades of working with asbestos, the husband was diagnosed in 1977 with mesothelioma and passed away the following year. After losing the original judgment, the widow appealed in 1987 and Western Macarthur was held responsible for her husband’s death.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma as the result of working with asbestos at Western Macarthur or using materials manufactured by the company, you should not hesitate to speak with an experienced attorney. Contact our law office today by calling (888) 506-1131 or schedule a free case evaluation with us online.