National Gypsum
National Gypsum found success in 1925 by developing a lighter and more flexible wallboard than what was then available on the market. The company marketed its product by offering anyone who found a better wallboard a $5000 guarantee, known as the Gold Bond. The Gold Bond brand quickly became better known than the parent company. National Gypsum not only survived through the Great Depression, it thrived – gobbling up its main competition along with several other gypsum manufacturers and mines.
In 1954 National Gypsum diversified by buying out Abestone Corporation, which manufactured asbestos cement. But Abestone products were not the only products from National Gypsum to contain asbestos – many of its Gold Bond products, including wallboards, shingles, panels, and cement foamboard also contained deadly asbestos.
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Asbestos was commonly used for much of the twentieth century in a wide variety of products that needed to be strengthened, insulated, and fireproofed. Intact, asbestos poses a low risk. But once its fibers are released into the air, they are easily inhaled or swallowed. When they become embedded in the delicate lining of the internal organs, their long sharp shape makes it very difficult for the body and its macrophages to expel. Over many years or decades, the embedded fibers can cause scarring and irritation in the pleural lining, which potentially sets the stage for a range of asbestos-related illnesses, including asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.
National Gypsum was hit hard by a wave of asbestos claims in the 1980s as well as a decline in new home construction. The company declared bankruptcy in 1990, which was resolved with the formation of the NGC Settlement Trust, which is devoted to settling asbestos-related claims and is funded by $5 million in cash and another $600 million in insurance policies.
If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma cancer as a result of working for National Gypsum, or with any of its products, you do have rights under asbestos law and may be eligible for a mesothelioma settlement. Mesothelioma attorneys may be able to get you the compensation you need and deserve.