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Covergard
Covergard is a heavy duty commodity that is used to cover and protect various products from cold, heat, rain and even fire. To accomplish these goals it must be made out of a material that is strong, durable and able to withstand the elements of nature. Developers found the perfect solution in the form of a naturally occurring mineral called asbestos.
During most of the 20th century, asbestos was used as a base in numerous products. Aside from its strength, it is also easy to mold and inexpensive to mine. It was an immensely popular building material in America, especially from the early 1950's until the late 1970's. Manufacturers of all types of products used it, but scientific research finally documented that asbestos is a serious health hazard. The microscopic fibers contained in every type of asbestos can be ingested by anyone, and then develop into diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and Mesothelioma. These conditions are often terminal.
Not every company stopped using this toxic mineral right away, however. Some continued to produce products that contained asbestos, even though it put their staff and customers at risk. Line workers were not notified of this danger and were therefore deprived of the ability to wear protective gear at work that could have prevented them from inhaling the deadly particles. This led to even more people becoming ill, and thousands upon thousands of lawsuits.
All over the country people who were infected by asbestos based products such as Covergard filed personal injury claims and sued for monetary compensation. Some of the claims were made by the actual victims, while others were filed by the families of people who had tragically passed away. To combat the lawsuits, the majority of these manufacturers filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Reorganization, and were able to put their debt behind them after establishing a trust fund to pay off all valid claims. Claimants could receive payments that way, but they were often far less than they would have been if the offending company had not declared bankruptcy.
If you were affected by asbestos based products, you may be wondering what actions you can take. To find out, read our asbestos and Mesothelioma information package, which is available upon request at no charge.