A.P. Green Industries
A.P. Green Industries (originally the A.P. Green Fire Brick Company) was founded in 1910 in Mexico, Missouri and quickly expanded by manufacturing the heat-resistant refractory products that were growing in demand in the early part of the last century.
As the need for Green’s products expanded, so did the business. The company eventually grew to 23 plants operating in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Indonesia. Like so many other manufacturers that produced thermal, insulation or high heat products, A.P. Green made extensive use of asbestos for strengthening, insulating, and fireproofing.
Call us at (800) 278-8675 to speak with a mesothelioma paralegal
Asbestos was considered the miracle mineral by industry because it could not be burned, was a poor conductor of heat and electricity, had a high tensile strength yet was incredibly light, and was abundant and cheap. From about 1900 until 1980, asbestos was used in countless products – from boiler insulation and roofing tiles to crock pots, toasters and hairdryers. Unfortunately, inhaling asbestos fibers, especially in large quantities causes a range of serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, a rare but devastating cancer.
A.P. Green workers and users of its products were regularly exposed to the asbestos that would easily become friable through cutting, grinding, sawing, or mixing certain products. Once inhaled or swallowed, asbestos fibers can become lodged in the organ linings. Over time, the affected tissue could become scarred and irritated, eventually leading to an asbestos-related condition.
A.P. Green was acquired in 1998 by Global Industrial Technologies for $195 million. By then the company was already facing a wave of lawsuits from individuals sickened by their products, and in 2002 Global and A.P. Green filed for bankruptcy protection. The bankruptcy was resolved by the establishment of trust fund to help compensate victims of A.P. Green’s asbestos use.
If you or a loved one worked for A.P. Green, or were exposed to asbestos and developed an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma as a result, you may be entitiled to compensation. Mesothelioma attorneys may be able to help you ger compensation to help pay medical bills and living expenses.