A. P. Green Industries
A. P. Green was an entrepreneur who was born in Jefferson, Missouri. In 1910 he purchased a small brick and fire clay manufacturing plant in Mexico, Missouri for $85,000. Within 5 years he had more than doubled the net worth of his business, which was now known as the A. P. Green Fire Brick Company. Soon after, Green purchased an even larger facility and became a producer of refractory and other industrial products that are sold internationally. Refractory products must be able to withstand intense heat, so when the company first started up they made their products with a naturally occurring mineral that proved to be very resistant to both heat and fire. This mineral was asbestos, and it wasn't until years later that it was found to be a poisonous material.
Whenever asbestos is used, tiny bits of it can break apart and float into the air, where they may be inhaled by those not employing asbestos prevention techniques. These people are then likely to be struck with lung diseases, respiratory failure, and an asbestos cancer called mesothelioma. These conditions have a poor survival rate, and patients diagnosed with mesothelioma generally have a short life expectancy. People who worked with or around the products sold by A. P. Green became very likely to ingest this hazardous material and become ill. Asbestos related diseases often have a long latency period, so if you worked with older A. P. Green products, you may still be at risk.
Although A. P. Green is well known and honored for brining many jobs to the Missouri area, his company is also infamous for their asbestos related troubles. Lawsuits against the company continued to arrive, with demands for large amounts of money from people who had developed diseases or lost loved ones after being exposed to the company's products. A. P. Green executives struggled with the pay outs, and eventually filed for a bankruptcy reorganization plan in 2002. This plan called for a complete restructure of the company, and the establishment of a dedicated fund to pay out all unsettled claims. A mesothelioma attorney can assist you in filing your claim.
Another result of the asbestos based bankruptcy was a lawsuit filed by J.P. Morgan Trust Co. against A. P. Green. Morgan claimed that Green owed them attorney fees for handling the bankruptcy proceedings, but Green executives stated that the finished procedure allowed them to shed every debt, including that one. Morgan's claim for unpaid fees was rejected by the court, and they continue to pursue this matter. The topic of whether or not a debtor must pay attorney fees after declaring bankruptcy is still a hotly debated issue.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and believe you may have a claim, please contact us.
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