M. H. Detrick Company
M.H. Detrick Company is a medium-sized corporation that specializes in the production and sales of refractory linings and structural steel for heat enclosures. Detrick annually grossed $2.5 million to $5 million in recent years, reporting more than 30,000 jobs completed worldwide. The company was founded in Mokena, Illinois, in the 1920s and went on to become a well-respected manufacturer and preferred supplier of heat-isolating products such as linings for furnaces, ovens and boiler pipes, as well as industrial tile for various applications.
Refractory tile produced by M.H. Detrick was able to withstand temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and was a bestselling material in its time. It was stressed that few repairs would ever be needed after Detrick refractory linings were installed.
These appealing qualities were achieved due to the high asbestos content of the products, a defining feature of Detrick’s goods for several decades. As a cost-efficient, readily-available thickener and fire retardant, asbestos was recognized for its lucrative industrial potential early in the 20th century. It was widely used by the refractory industry for many decades.
Health Risks & Asbestos Exposure
Welders, boilermakers, naval workers, shipyard workers and many other manual laborers frequently came into contact with Detrick products, which put these individuals at risk of developing mesothelioma and asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive, rapidly progressing form of cancer that is primarily caused by a history of exposure to asbestos.
It wasn’t until 1977 that asbestos was finally regulated and officially recognized as an extremely carcinogenic mineral. Asbestos is currently classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a carcinogenic mineral that is highly toxic to humans, with no safe amount of exposure. The dangers of asbestos are illustrated by the rising rate of asbestos-related diseases among former workers.
Asbestos Litigation & M.H. Detrick
By the mid-1980s, the company became a target of thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits. In January 1998, M.H. Detrick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to reorganize its operation and mobilize resources to settle claims. Detrick was commonly included in class action lawsuits alongside dozens of other codefendants.
M.H. Detrick established an Asbestos Trust on August 21, 2002. The purpose of the trust was to assume all asbestos-related claims against M.H. Detrick Company. The trust focused on compensating workers exposed to Detrick asbestos products between 1939 and 1964 who suffered a health condition caused by asbestos.
The trust’s claim period ended on February 10, 2011, and is now closed. The company is working on resuming its normal operations in the near future.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related condition, understanding your options is important in pursuing appropriate compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering. To request additional information on recourse that might be available to you and treatment options, take a moment to fill out the form on this page or call (800) 615-2270 to speak with a Patient Advocate.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
