Kaiser Aluminum
As the name implies Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Company produces aluminum and chemical based products, largely for the aerospace, automotive and engineering industries. The company was first established in 1946 by Henry J. Kaiser. When it was founded, Kaiser leased property from the US Government, but eventually they purchased the land, and over time their empire expanded to include 10 separate facilities in the United States and one in Canada.
Though the company has done well over the years, in 2002 Kaiser put in a plea for bankruptcy protection and a complete company reorganization. The reason for this was a multitude of lawsuits brought against the company from people who had been made sick because of the products produced by Kaiser. These products contained a naturally occurring mineral called asbestos that was the culprit behind the illnesses.
Asbestos was used for a variety of industrial purposed until it was recognized as being a toxic substance. It is made up of microscopic fibers that cling together, but can break apart and float in the air, where they may be inhaled by anyone who gets too close. The fibers are responsible for damaging the respiratory systems of people who have breathed them in, as well as developing into a potentially lethal type of asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma. The mesothelioma survival rate is low because there is no cure for the disease. There are different mesothelioma cell types that may be diagnosed including papillary mesothelioma and sarcomatoid mesothelioma but the prognosis is generally the same for all. This is mainly due to a long latency period which often leads to the disease being identified in later stages where the chances of being able to go into remission become less likely. Treatment at top mesothelioma clinics may involve chemo with Alimta®, Navelbine or Onconase or other treatments like extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurocentesis. Our mesothelioma treatment guide and mesothelioma resources section provide more helpful information for those who have been diagnosed.
By 2001, Kaiser had more than 112,000 personal injury claims still pending. They had already paid out several hundred million to plaintiffs, and the list of claims seemed to have no end. The decision to file for bankruptcy was finally reached in 2002, and it was designed to protect the company and all of its subsidiaries.
Unsettled claims would not be forgotten following the bankruptcy process. A trust fund was put in place to determine which claims were brought forth by people who had genuinely been affected and made ill by products created by Kaiser. These claims would be settled and paid in amounts that were determined by the trust representatives. Future claims are expected, as it often takes many years for symptoms of asbestos related diseases to develop.
Kaiser Aluminum continues to produce products today without the use of asbestos. The company focuses on the production of aluminum and industrial items made from aluminum.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and believe you may have a claim, please contact us.
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