National Gypsum Company Asbestos Trust Fund
Over 200,000 workers with asbestos-related diseases have sued National Gypsum, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of asbestos-tainted gypsum wallboard and interior finishing products. National Gypsum filed for bankruptcy in response to the lawsuits and established the NGC Bodily Injury Trust in 2003 to compensate workers and family members exposed to asbestos through their products.
Our experienced mesothelioma lawyers can help you file a trust fund claim if you or your loved one is diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness from exposure to National Gypsum products. Call (618) 659-9833 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
- National Gypsum Company is a large corporation that used asbestos in its wallboard and related building products until at least 1981.
- National Gypsum Company filed for bankruptcy in 1990 in response to hundreds of thousands of lawsuits brought by asbestos exposure victims.
- You may be eligible for substantial compensation through the National Gypsum Company asbestos trust fund.
- Our nationally recognized mesothelioma attorneys can help you gather evidence and file your trust fund claim.
National Gypsum Asbestos Lawsuits
The National Gypsum Company is one of the world’s largest gypsum wallboard producers. It used asbestos until at least 1981, exposing hundreds of thousands of workers. Many developed asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other cancers. Some carried asbestos fibers home and exposed family members, who developed illnesses through secondary asbestos exposure.
By the early 1990s, over 200,000 people had filed lawsuits against the National Gypsum Company. In 1992, 45,000 cases remained unresolved.
Setting Up the National Gypsum Asbestos Trust Fund
National Gypsum filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990. The court approved the bankruptcy in 1993, and National Gypsum established the NGC Settlement Trust.
When a company files for bankruptcy, asbestos exposure victims often lose the right to sue. However, Section 524(g) of the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code requires bankrupt companies with asbestos liabilities to establish trust funds for the benefit of asbestos-exposure victims who develop diseases.
As part of its bankruptcy reorganization, the National Gypsum Company formed a new company under the same name and continued operating. The old company was renamed Asbestos Claims Management Corporation and did not have bankruptcy protection. It started to run out of money by 1997.
On August 19, 2003, the Asbestos Claims Management Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and combined resources with the existing asbestos trust fund to form the NGC Bodily Injury Trust.
National Gypsum Asbestos Trust Eligibility Requirements
You may be eligible for compensation through the NGC Bodily Injury Trust if you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another qualifying asbestos-related illness or if your loved one died of an asbestos-related illness. To receive compensation, you must provide medical evidence and proof of occupational asbestos exposure through NGC products.
Medical Requirements
You must be diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related condition to qualify for compensation. Once you have a diagnosis, reaching out to our attorneys as soon as possible is crucial.
The statute of limitations for mesothelioma claims generally starts running on the date of diagnosis. The NGC Bodily Injury Trust requires you to file your claim no later than three years after your diagnosis. If your loved one died of an asbestos-related illness, you have three years from the date of death to file your claim.
The medical evidence required varies based on your condition.
Mesothelioma
You must have a qualified physician’s diagnosis of a malignant tumor that originated in the mesothelial cells of the pleural, peritoneal, or similar membranes, confirmed by biopsy. If there is insufficient tissue to diagnose the tumor through biopsy, the fund will accept an equivalent clinical diagnosis.
Lung Cancer
You will need a qualified physician’s diagnosis of a malignant tumor in the bronchial tubes in the lungs to qualify for compensation for lung cancer. The diagnosis must include confirmation that the cancer is caused by asbestos exposure and not something else. The NGC Bodily Injury Trust accepts the following evidence that your lung cancer is linked to asbestos exposure:
- Interstitial lung disease of both lungs.
- Pleural plaques or thickening of the pleural membranes on one side with at least ILO Grade B and no other clinical explanation.
- Pleural disease on both sides.
- Asbestos identification in your tissues.
- Evidence of at least 10 years of exposure to visible asbestos-containing dust during employment.
Other Cancers
You may qualify for mesothelioma compensation through the NGC Bodily Injury Trust if you have a confirmed diagnosis of the following cancers and proof of asbestos exposure:
- Colon cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Rectal cancer
Our knowledgeable asbestos exposure attorneys can determine whether your condition qualifies.
Non-Malignant Diseases
You may qualify for compensation from the NGC Bodily Injury Trust if you are diagnosed with asbestosis or pleural abnormalities caused by asbestos exposure. The evidence required varies based on your diagnosis. You may need lung function test results, X-rays, and other medical evidence. Our experienced mesothelioma lawyers can determine what evidence you need and help you file your claim accordingly.
Exposure Requirements
The National Gypsum Company was a manufacturer, supplier, and employer in the building and construction industry. You may have been exposed to asbestos while manufacturing National Gypsum Company products or while using the products in building construction.
To receive compensation from the trust fund, your evidence must show that you were exposed to asbestos during employment. For any condition other than mesothelioma, your evidence must show that you were exposed regularly over an extended period on the job, during training, or from secondary exposure in the household of an exposed worker. You will need a signed affidavit that includes the following:
- Your occupation, job duties, and industry.
- How the asbestos product was used.
- Names of employers and locations.
- The frequency and duration of your exposure.
- Whether you handled the asbestos directly or worked in an area where it was present.
Asbestos in National Gypsum Products
The National Gypsum Company was established in 1925 and became the nation’s second-largest supplier and manufacturer of gypsum wallboard and related building supplies, producing over 150 products. The company supplied products to residential and commercial construction companies worldwide, and millions of workers experienced heavy, long-term asbestos exposure.
National Gypsum Products Containing Asbestos
Workers may have experienced occupational asbestos exposure through the following National Gypsum Company asbestos products:
- Gold Bond wallboard
- Joint compound
- Abestone cement
- Rock wool insulation
- Soundproofing materials in aircraft engines
- Cargo ship insulation
- Wall lath
- Wall plaster
- Murray tiles
- American Encaustic tiles
Many of these products were marketed and sold under the company’s primary brand, Gold Bond Building Products. In most cases, the company used asbestos intentionally.
However, the company also used vermiculite contaminated with asbestos from the vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, to produce wallboards in its Long Beach, California plant. If you were exposed to asbestos through this wallboard, you may also qualify for compensation through the W.R. Grace Asbestos Trust Fund.
Occupations at Risk for Exposure
The following are just some of the workers who may have been exposed to asbestos in National Gypsum Company products:
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Factory workers
- HVAC workers
- Maintenance workers
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Aircraft workers
- Cargo ship workers
- Acoustical soundproofing workers
- Drywallers
- Plasterers
- Painters
- Insulators
- Cement workers
- Carpenters
Don't Wait — File Your National Gypsum Company Asbestos Trust Claim Today
If you or your loved one has been exposed to asbestos through National Gypsum Company products, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Our award-winning mesothelioma lawyers have decades of combined experience handling mesothelioma claims and have recovered over $4 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
We can help you gather evidence and file your asbestos trust fund claim. Time is limited, so act now. Call (618) 659-9833 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
