UNR - UNARCO

Throughout the 20th century, the Union Asbestos and Rubber Company (Unarco) produced various products, including many of which contained asbestos. The continued weight of asbestos litigation, however, led Unarco to file for bankruptcy. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to prolonged or repeated exposure to Unarco products, there still might be methods left to pursue compensation.

Created in 1941, Unarco manufactured asbestos-containing products for various industries including aviation, industrial, and rail. One of the most popular Unarco products that contained asbestos was Unarco Insutape, which was an insulation used on railcars. Unarco tended to use amosite asbestos in products. Amosite was most commonly used in cement sheets and pipe insulation and is a particularly carcinogenic form of asbestos. In the 1950s, a survey examined approximately 900 men at Unarco’s New Jersey factory. A much greater rate of asbestos-related diseases was discovered among the men as compared to the general population. Today, Unarco is headquartered in Oklahoma and primarily manufactures shopping carts.

In 1982, Unarco became one of the first companies that had manufactured asbestos-containing products to file for bankruptcy. Several years later, Unarco established a trust to tackle both unsettled and future asbestos claims. For 30 years, the Unarco Asbestos-Disease Claims Trust helped asbestos victims obtain compensation. After several years of running low on funds, however, the trust closed in 2019.

Countless lawsuits addressing the danger of asbestos have been initiated against Unarco over the last few decades. Some of the most noteworthy asbestos cases in which Unarco has been involved include:

• In 2015, an Illinois appeals court threw out a $1.4 million verdict in an asbestos case and requested a new trial. This decision came after an Illinois jury in 2014 ordered Illinois Central Railroad to pay the verdict of a worker who suffered from asbestosis. In reaching its decision, the 4th District Appellate Court held that attorneys for the railroad company should have been permitted to inform the jury that the man had also worked at the Unarco facility at the Bloomington railyard before beginning this position.
• In 2009, an Illinois jury awarded three widows $5.5 million in a lawsuit on the basis that these women’s late husbands had each been exposed to asbestos. The men had been employed at Unarco during the 1950s and 1960s. All three workers ultimately died of mesothelioma. The jury in this case determined that Unarco as well as several other companies had conspired to withhold details about the danger of asbestos from workers.

Exposure to asbestos can result in various life-threatening medical conditions. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related condition, the assistance of a compassionate lawyer can greatly influence the outcome of your case. Consider contacting the Throneberry Law Group today to schedule a free case evaluation. Reach us by calling (888) 506-1131 or schedule an appointment online.