Western MacArthur Settlement Trust - Asbestos Exposure

Western MacArthur is a company responsible for many injuries and illnesses related to asbestos exposure, including asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. A Federal District Court has established a Settlement Trust to oversee the equitable distribution of funds to those persons, or family members, injured by asbestos exposure induced by Western MacArthur. The paragraphs below describe the history of this company, the resulting asbestos injuries caused by its actions and the Settlement Trust.

Western MacArthur Company Asbestos Settlements

The Western MacArthur Company (previously the MacArthur Company and Western Asbestos Company) was founded in 1967 as a pipe insulation manufacturer. Prior to its regulation in the early 1970s, asbestos was a common component in a number of industrial and commercial products. Its heat resistance and flexibility made it an exceptional insulator and its availability and low-cost made it the material of choice for most industrial and commercial product manufacturers. But at what cost?

The unfortunate reality is that asbestos is a harmful material that can cause the development of a number of injuries and adverse health conditions, including asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and countless more injuries; and that only accounts for the documented cases.

Western MacArthur Company Asbestos Product Liability

The widespread use and availability of asbestos and asbestos-laden products fostered a dangerous environment of exposure in which hundreds of thousands of people were put at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

Prior to asbestos litigation, knowledge of the risks associated with asbestos exposure was limited. However, it has been determined that many asbestos product manufacturers were aware of the risks, but chose to ignore them to protect their business interests. This grievous error in judgment serves as a cornerstone in the evolution of asbestos personal injury litigation. By placing business interests before public interest, asbestos product manufacturers acted negligently, providing grounds for punitive legal recourse.

Asbestos Companies are Liable

Asbestos product manufacturers are liable for the injuries and deaths caused as a result of toxic exposure to their products. Punitive damages incurred by companies like Western MacArthur Company were so large that they threatened to force the company into bankruptcy before all victims could receive their share of compensation. In an effort to avoid such a circumstance, many companies, including Western MacArthur Company, have been required to establish settlement trusts that are used to provide victims with their fair share of compensation to defray medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.

The Western Asbestos Settlement Trust

The Western MacArthur Company is responsible for a significant number of asbestos injuries and deaths caused as a result of exposure to the company's asbestos-laden products. In fact, so many people were injured as a result of hazardous exposure to Western MacArthur Company products that a trust was established by a Federal District Court to allow for the fair and equitable distribution of damages.

The Court awards Asbestos victims a settlement that is customized to meet their unique circumstances. Individual settlements from the trust are based on the duration and level of asbestos exposure and the type of health problem said exposure caused. For example, someone with a mild case of treatable and manageable asbestosis will receive less than someone with a fatal asbestos disease like malignant mesothelioma.

Western MacArthur Company Lawsuits

Employees of the Western MacArthur Company and those who have been injured as a result of exposure to the company's products may be eligible to receive injury compensation. Asbestos injury victims are encouraged to speak with a qualified attorney to determine an appropriate course of action. Specialized asbestos attorneys are adept at tracing exposure to a specific source and targeting all responsible parties.

Those injured as a result of exposure to Western MacArthur Company products may be eligible to receive compensation from the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust. Consultation with an asbestos lawyer can determine any such eligibility.

[Page updated January 2008]