Bestwall Gypsum

Founded in Pennsylvania, Bestwall Gypsum has manufactured building products for several decades. Still operating today under the Georgia-Pacific name, the company no longer uses asbestos in its products. Many people, however, have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer due to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Bestwall Gypsum.

Bestwall Gypsum manufactured the first gypsum wallboards, which were referred to as Beaver Products’ Bestwall. Then in 1928, the company was acquired by CertainTeed Corporation, which is a major distributor and manufacturer of gypsum products. Bestwall continued to grow in popularity during the 1940s and 1950s. Due to its success, CertainTeed created a new company called Bestwall Gypsum. The product was manufactured for several decades.  The company also expanded its product line to include other construction materials, such as joint compound and spackle.

In 1965, Georgia Pacific acquired Bestwall Gypsum Company and added Bestwall products to its lineup. While the risk of asbestos to human health was well-known, Georgia Pacific continued manufacturing materials with asbestos until the 1970s when federal regulations addressing asbestos exposure were passed.

To reduce the number of asbestos lawsuits it ended up facing, the company began a covert research program to discredit the link between the products it manufactured and asbestos-associated illnesses. Records later revealed that Georgia Pacific paid more than 15 scientists $6 million to discredit details about the dangers presented by asbestos. 13 company-funded articles on the subject were later published in scientific journals.

In 2017, Bestwall filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in North Carolina. At this time, the company was facing more than 62,000 asbestos lawsuits. Then, in 2018, a committee of asbestos claimants accused Georgia Pacific of “subversion” of the bankruptcy process. In 2019, the committee accused Georgia-Pacific of purposefully postponing the bankruptcy process and requested that the bankruptcy court either dismiss the case or set a deadline to confirm the company’s bankruptcy plan. In 2021, Bestwall got the bankruptcy court's approval to test the veracity and value of the asbestos claims against it.

Bestwall produces various products. Many of these products were manufactured using gypsum, which is a hydrated calcium sulfate mineral used to make products like drywall and plaster. Before the 1980s, most products that contained gypsum also contained asbestos. Joint compounds, spackle, and wallboard manufactured by Bestwall Gypsum all contained asbestos. Georgia Pacific also manufactured other construction products that contain asbestos.

Not only were Bestwall Gypsum workers at risk of developing asbestos illnesses, many workers in different companies worked either with or around products that the company distributed. Some of the workers who were harmed by asbestos-containing products manufactured by Bestwall Gypsum include construction workers, insulation installers, maintenance workers, and shipyard workers.

It is easy to feel powerless if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this or another condition due to exposure to an asbestos-containing product manufactured by Bestwall Gypsum, you should promptly contact an experienced attorney who will fight for the results you deserve. Schedule a free case evaluation with the Throneberry Law Group today by calling (888) 506-1131.