Johns Manville Asbestos Use
Founded in 1858, Johns Manville Corporation manufactured dozens of building materials containing asbestos, an inexpensive, durable, and fireproof mineral. While asbestos helped products withstand extreme temperatures, it also posed a danger to anyone who came in contact with it.
Breathing in or swallowing microscopic asbestos fibers can lead to life-threatening illnesses like mesothelioma later in life. Court records show Johns Manville knew about the dangers of asbestos for decades but failed to warn the public or protect its workers.
Johns Manville made asbestos products until the 1980s when the health hazards became known. The company filed for bankruptcy in the 1980s and formed an asbestos trust fund to compensate current and future victims and minimize its legal liabilities.
Key Facts About Johns Manville Corporation & Asbestos
- Asbestos products: Insulation, cement sheets, floor tiles, piping, roofing, and more
- Industries impacted: Industrial and residential construction, manufacturing, and the military
- At-risk occupations: Electricians, insulators, pipefitters, roofers, and many others
- Asbestos trust fund information: Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, funded with $2.5 billion
If you’ve been diagnosed with asbestos, you may be able to access trust fund compensation without the hassle of going to court. See if you’re eligible right now.
Johns Manville Asbestos Trust Fund Information
Johns Manville filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982, becoming one of the first major companies to do so as a result of asbestos lawsuits. Under Chapter 11, companies can reorganize their finances and stay in business.
As part of this reorganization, a Johns Manville asbestos trust known as the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in 1988 and funded with $2.5 billion.
Who Can File a Johns Manville Bankruptcy Trust Claim?
You may qualify to file a Johns Manville asbestos trust claim if:
- You were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or a related illness after being exposed to asbestos in Johns Manville products.
- A loved one was diagnosed with or passed away from mesothelioma or another asbestos disease after being exposed.
Workers aren’t the only ones at risk of becoming sick from Johns Manville asbestos products. A family member may develop mesothelioma after experiencing secondary exposure from asbestos dust a loved one brought home on their clothes after working with the company’s products.
A mesothelioma lawyer can identify the products that caused your illness and the companies that made and sold them.
Steps to File a Johns Manville Trust Claim
The Johns Manville asbestos trust has money set aside for people who develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from its products. Learn how to file a claim with the trust below.
- Gather documents: Asbestos victims provide information about their diagnosis and the Johns Manville asbestos products they were exposed to. An asbestos attorney can review your personal background and work history to figure out the products that made you sick.
- File your claim: Your lawyer will file paperwork with the Johns Manville asbestos trust and all other trusts you may be eligible for.
- Claim review process: The trust will review your claim and determine if you’re eligible for compensation.
- Access compensation: Mesothelioma patients often receive trust fund compensation in 90 days or less and can access money from the comfort of their homes.
As of August 2024, the Johns Manville asbestos trust contains nearly $614,000. Like many other asbestos trusts, the Johns Manville trust pays each claimant a percentage of their claim’s total value.
The Johns Manville asbestos trust payment percentage is 5.1%. The scheduled value for mesothelioma is $350,000, meaning those with this cancer would get $17,850 if they meet the criteria.
An experienced mesothelioma attorney can file a claim with the Johns Manville asbestos trust and any other mesothelioma trusts you qualify for to increase your total payout.
Call (866) 608-8933 right now to learn about your legal options and see if our team can help you access compensation.
Johns Manville Asbestos Products
For more than a century, Johns Manville manufactured asbestos-containing products that could be found in private homes, factories, military bases, and many other sites. Products like Johns Manville asbestos insulation and shingles resisted corrosion and heat and stayed strong.
The Johns Manville asbestos products list includes:
- Adhesives
- Architectural panels
- Asbestos cloth and tape
- Block insulation
- Caulking
- Cement sheets
- Packing
- Pipes
- Pipe insulation
- Siding
- Roofing shingles, tiles, and felt
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Wallboard
Johns Manville sold many asbestos products under the brand name J-M Transite. These products, made using a mix of cement and asbestos fibers, were commonly used to build homes and other structures for most of the 20th century.
When asbestos products are installed, repaired, or removed, tiny fibers can become airborne, posing a danger to anyone in the area. Asbestos fibers that are breathed in or swallowed can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses 10-50 years later.
At-Risk Johns Manville Asbestos Exposure Jobs
Johns Manville employees and blue-collar workers who handled the company’s asbestos products daily face the highest risk of asbestos exposure.
High-risk Johns Manville asbestos exposure jobs include:
- Boilermakers
- Brick masons
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Drywall installers
- Electricians
- Factory workers
- HVAC technicians
- Insulators
- Military veterans
- Millwrights
- Painters
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Railroad workers
- Roofers
- Shipyard workers
- Steamfitters
- Steelworkers
- Textile workers
- Tile installers
This is not a complete list — many other workers may have come in contact with asbestos when working with or around Johns Manville asbestos products.
During World War II, Johns Manville asbestos insulation was used to build Navy ships, putting shipbuilders and those who served on naval vessels in harm’s way.
The Johns Manville asbestos trust fund and other sources provide compensation to those who’ve been affected. See if we can help you get everything you deserve with a Free Case Review.
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Did Johns Manville Know Asbestos Was Dangerous?
Yes, court records indicate that Johns Manville knew of the dangers of asbestos for decades before it stopped using the toxic mineral. Evidence from internal company documents suggests leadership knew as early as the 1930s that asbestos exposure could cause serious health problems.
A 1934 letter from a Johns Manville attorney acknowledged the health hazards of asbestos and recommended that the company cover up this information to avoid potential lawsuits. There are also records of Johns Manville working with other asbestos companies to prevent the publication of scientific studies linking asbestos to various health problems.
By the 1970s, the company faced a flood of asbestos lawsuits from workers and consumers diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses. One of those lawsuits — Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Company — was the first to establish that manufacturers could be held strictly liable for injuries caused by asbestos products and had a duty to warn people of the risks.
This Johns Manville asbestos lawsuit is often considered to be the start of modern-day asbestos litigation, which has awarded billions of dollars to mesothelioma victims and their families over the years.
Get Help for Mesothelioma From Johns Manville Asbestos Products
Johns Manville stopped manufacturing asbestos-containing products decades ago, but for many Americans, the company’s actions came too late.
Our team can help Johns Manville asbestos victims secure compensation after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
We can help you:
- Identify the asbestos products that made you sick
- File claims with the Johns Manville asbestos trust
- Pursue mesothelioma compensation from other companies
- Find mesothelioma doctors and support resources
Take action by calling (866) 608-8933 right now to see if you can file asbestos trust fund claims.
Johns Manville Asbestos Trust FAQs
When did Johns Manville stop using asbestos?
Johns Manville stopped using asbestos in its manufacturing process by the 1980s.
Up until that time, the company had used the cancer-causing mineral to make asbestos cement pipe, roofing materials, and dozens of other products.
What is the Manville trust?
The Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust is a bankruptcy trust established by Johns Manville to compensate asbestos victims.
Those who developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease after being exposed to the company’s products may be entitled to compensation.
What is the Johns Manville asbestos trust payment percentage?
The Johns Manville asbestos trust payment percentage is 5.1% of your total claim payout as of August 2024.
Asbestos trust payment percentages ensure that trusts retain enough money to pay present and future claimants.
What happened to the Johns Manville company?
Johns Manville, once a leading manufacturer of asbestos-containing products, faced significant legal challenges due to the health risks related to asbestos exposure. By the early 1980s, the company was overwhelmed by asbestos claims from workers and consumers who had developed asbestos-related diseases.
In 1982, Johns Manville filed for bankruptcy protection to manage its growing liabilities, becoming one of the first major companies to do so due to asbestos litigation. As part of its reorganization, the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established to compensate victims.
In the 1980s, Johns Manville stopped using asbestos and shifted to safer materials like fiberglass. Today, the company operates as a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, producing insulation, roofing, and other building materials.
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