Armstrong World Industries
Armstrong World Industries got its start in 1860, when company founder Thomas M. Armstrong and his partner John D. Glass opened a store that sold hand carved wine bottle corks in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. By 1906 Armstrong's business had expanded to insulation materials, various types of flooring and carpeting. It continued to thrive and merge with other companies and eventually became a global entity.
As the product line from Armstrong grew, so did the type of materials used to create the items the company sold. One material that became a key component for many of their products was a naturally occurring mineral called asbestos. This was commonly used by manufacturers all across the country for years, but eventually it was found to be toxic in nature.
Asbestos is composed of tiny fibers that sometimes break apart and float in the atmosphere. They are too small to be seen by the human eye, and can be inhaled by people who do not even realize it. People who take in microscopic bits of asbestos are put at great risk of developing respiratory illnesses and asbestos cancer, most often and most seriously mesothelioma. Many people have fallen ill, and even died after being exposed to asbestos. Because these products are still found in older jobsites, the EPA has issued recommendations for mesothelioma prevention. Unfortunately, asbestos related diseases often have a very long latency period, meaning that by the time the disease is diagnosed, life expectancy is often very low.
Once the true nature of asbestos was known, people began to sue the manufacturers of the products that put them at risk. Over time more than 170,000 personal injury claims were filed against Armstrong Holdings. The expected cost for these cases started at over $750 million and went as high as $1.3 billion. By 2000, the company filed for bankruptcy protection against the asbestos lawsuits. They were so recognized for being a producer of dangerous products that they were included in the top 100 polluters in the United States for 2002. Between the lawsuits and the national recognition of selling asbestos based products, the company was in desperate need of a complete turnaround. Armstrong got started on a 6 year bankruptcy plan to reorganize the company and get out from under the massive asbestos related debt they were incurring. To complete the procedure, the company had to establish the Armstrong World Industries, Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust to deal with the outstanding claims, and any future lawsuits.
The Trust was designed to review and assess all claims to determine which were valid and which were not. Victims who were made ill by the products produced by Armstrong are paid out from the fund, and the payment amount is based on the severity of the illness. A mesothelioma attorney can help you validate and file your claim. Armstrong Worldwide continues to thrive as they manufacture flooring out of vinyl and wood based materials.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and believe you may have a claim, please contact us.
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