United States Gypsum is referred to as U.S. Gypsum, or USG, and has been in operation for over 100 years. The company pursued bankruptcy in 2001 following countless personal injury lawsuits. The company established an asbestos trust in 2006 to compensate claims. USG produced countless construction materials and depended heavily on the placement of asbestos in its products from the 1920s to the 1970s. Consequently, many people including consumers and workers have subsequently been diagnosed with asbestos-associated illnesses.
USG continues to face countless lawsuits for wrongful asbestos exposure.
United States Gypsum Company’s History
Before USG was established, dozens of competing companies operated throughout the country. The primary focus of these operations was to manufacture plaster. This ultimately resulted in the establishment of other types of construction plants.
USG started producing asbestos products in the 1920s. The company continued manufacturing asbestos-containing products until the 1970s. Following this period, USG faced various asbestos litigation that caused the company to pursue bankruptcy in 2001. A few years later, in 2006, USG was discharged from bankruptcy, and as a term of bankruptcy discharge was required to establish a trust fund.
USG is still in business even though they face litigation from people diagnosed with conditions associated with asbestos exposure. As a result, asbestos exposure victims often have an easier time pursuing compensation from USG than other companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products in the past.
United States Gypsum Products
USG started placing asbestos in its materials in the 1920s. Not only were workers exposed to the hazard of asbestos, but so was anyone who came into contact with products manufactured by USG. The company valued asbestos due to the material’s durable and heat-resistant nature. In the beginning, USG manufactured plaster and a product called Sheetrock. The company began to widen its market during World War I and from the 1930s onwards. Some asbestos products manufactured by USG include the Durabond joint compound as well as Red Top Structo-Lite and Perf-A-Tape.
Asbestos Lawsuits Involving United States Gypsum Company
Similar to other companies that manufactured products containing asbestos, USG has faced many mesothelioma lawsuits over the years. At the start of the 1990s, more than 45,000 workers initiated lawsuits associated with asbestos exposure against USG. A court decided that the company was accountable in most of these cases, particularly when asbestos safety efforts were considered.
A larger case in which USG was involved was against the City of Baltimore. The company ultimately was required by a court of law to pay millions in damages as well as compensation to a Baltimore police station that utilized the company’s products. As litigation costs increased, the company ultimately declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001. In 2006, the company announced a reorganization plan and emerged from bankruptcy, and established an asbestos trust fund to compensate existing and future claims.
Contact a Compassionate Mesothelioma Attorney
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos-containing products manufactured by USG, you should consider speaking with a seasoned attorney. Contact the Throneberry Law Group today by calling (888)506-1131 to schedule a free case evaluation.
