Were you exposed to asbestos in your work with Western MacArthur or its products? If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Keep reading to learn more about filing an asbestos claim against Western MacArthur.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, one of the options to receive mesothelioma compensation for your injuries is through an asbestos settlement trust. Many companies that exposed workers to asbestos have established asbestos settlement trusts that can be accessed by certain eligible workers for compensation for their injuries.
To qualify for compensation from one of these trusts, you need to talk to a mesothelioma attorney near you and find proof that the company or companies that contribute to the trust were responsible for exposing you to asbestos.
One of the larger trusts that provides compensation to mesothelioma victims is the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust. Below is more information about the trust and what you need to do to qualify for mesothelioma compensation.
The History of Asbestos At Western MacArthur
The MacArthur Company started to make asbestos-containing pipes and covering in 1913. (asbestos.com). That firm merged with Western Asbestos in the 1960s. Western MacArthur was formed, and the company continued to make asbestos-containing products until the late 1970s.
Like most companies in its industry, Western MacArthur used asbestos in several insulation products because asbestos increased strength, heat resistance, and durability.
However, the heavy use of asbestos by the company eventually led to mesothelioma settlement lawsuits from former employees who became ill from working with the company’s products.
How The Western Asbestos Settlement Trust Was Developed
Thousands of asbestos lawsuits damaged the company’s finances and forced Western MacArthur into bankruptcy in November 2002. It came out of bankruptcy in 2004 and established the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust. It was funded with $2 billion initially in mesothelioma compensation for former employees affected with health problems from asbestos. (mesothelioma.net)
To date, the Trust has paid out more than $1 billion in claims. In 2018, the Trust stated that the average mesothelioma case value for California mesothelioma victims was $276,000 and $62,000 for lung cancer.
In June 2019, the Trust boosted the payment percentage to 51%. That percentage is higher than most other asbestos trusts.
More About Western Asbestos Settlement Trust
The Western Asbestos Settlement Trust was set up after an order of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California, Oakland Division under special provisions of the US Bankruptcy Code.
The Trust is to absolve and resolve asbestos claims arising from the operations of the MacArthur Company, Western Asbestos Company, and Western MacAruther Company. (wastrust.com).
The court decided the size of the assets that must be contributed regularly to the Trust, how claims are settled, and how money in the Trust must be invested.
The size of the award you can receive in mesothelioma compensation from the Trust is based on your exposure, nature of your disease, and several other factors. All asbestos disease claimants are treated equitably.
How Asbestos Trust Settlements Work
The Western Asbestos Settlement Trust has established mesothelioma payouts as soon as possible with minimal overhead costs.
If you wish to make a claim from the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust, the entity has a Claims Packet that you and your attorney should review. There is an application that you can submit to the trustees who will evaluate your claim and make a decision about your potential compensation.
You will need to prove that you or your loved ones were exposed to asbestos at a specific site, or the exposure was from a certain product. Most trusts have set up exposure and medical criteria that set a baseline for workers who seek compensation.
Each trust fund has its own schedule for paying payments, based on a percentage that the victim is entitled to. As noted above, Western Asbestos Settlement Trust has a high payout percentage of 51%. If you have a claim of $500,000 with the Trust, you may receive a payment of approximately $250,000.
Mesothelioma Compensation Involving Western MacArthur
Western MacArthur and Western Asbestos have been named in thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits.
For example, the widow of an asbestos worker named Janice Hughes filed a wrongful death mesothelioma claim after her husband passed away from asbestos cancer in 1987. Her husband was employed by Western Asbestos from 1944 until 1967. His mesothelioma diagnosis came in 1977 and he died the next year.
She lost the initial court case but won on appeal in 1987. She was awarded an undisclosed amount of mesothelioma compensation for her husband’s death.
Western MacArthur’s Asbestos Products
If you worked at Western MacAruther and with any of the following products, you may have been exposed to asbestos. Talk to your mesothelioma attorney if you have been diagnosed as you could be entitled to compensation from the trust fund:
- 7-V Insulation Cement
- 1-V Insulation Cement
- 1 Insulation Cement
- 28 Insulation Cement
- MacArthur Company Low-Pressure Pipe Cover
- Unifil Vermiculite Insulation
Some of the occupations at Western MacAruther that were most at risk for asbestos exposure were:
- Machinists
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Boiler workers
- Construction workers
- Maintenance workers
- Industrial workers
- Factory workers
- Power plant workers
- Shipyard workers
- Insulators
Workers who installed or uninstalled any of the above products were in direct contact with asbestos. Also, anyone who resided near a Western MacArthur manufacturing facility when asbestos products were made could be at risk for asbestos-related diseases.
Western MacArthur caused serious harm to people who worked at their companies and were exposed to asbestos without their knowledge. While its Trust has paid out millions in settlements, it does little to make up for the devastation their families have experienced.
But if you have been injured by asbestos and worked for Western MacAruther, you could be eligible for substantial mesothelioma compensation.
Get Mesothelioma Legal Help
With over $30 billion available for victims through the Asbestos Trust Funds, you could be entitled to financial compensations without ever filing a lawsuit. Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer victims qualify immediately. Complete the form or call us toll-free (800) 352-0871.
References
- Western Asbestos Settlement Trust. Accessed at http://www.wastrust.com/
- Western Asbestos Settlement Trust Claims Packet. Accessed at http://www.wastrust.com/claims-packet
- Asbestos Settlement Trusts. Accessed at Asbestos.com
- Western MacArthur Company History. Accessed at https://mesothelioma.net/western-macarthur/