Imerys is a multinational company that mines and processes specialty minerals. Imerys filed for bankruptcy in February 2019, seeking protection from lawsuits alleging asbestos in its talc caused cancer. A trust was created with $862 million in January 2024 to handle future asbestos claims.
Amount in Trust: $862 million Year Trust was Created: 2024
Bankruptcy Status:
Filed in February 2019
What Is the Imerys Asbestos Trust Fund?
The Imerys Asbestos Trust is a bankruptcy fund created in 2024 to hold money for those who develop mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis from contaminated Imerys talc. Imerys Talc America and its subsidiaries, Imerys Talc Vermont and Imerys Canada Inc., filed bankruptcy on Feb. 13, 2019 after facing asbestos lawsuits.
Key Facts About the Imerys Asbestos Trust Fund
Imerys Talc America and Cyprus Mines Corporation created a collective trust of $862 million in January 2024.
Imerys Talc America faced more than 14,000 asbestos claims in U.S. courts at the time of the bankruptcy filing.
The trust fund offers a way for people to seek compensation even after the company’s bankruptcy.
The trust fund operates as a court-supervised entity to resolve current and future asbestos claims.
Asbestos trust funds establish payout percentages from the main fund for people who file claims and meet the criteria. These funds offer a way to seek mesothelioma compensation and can be part of a comprehensive legal approach your attorney may recommend for you.
Legal Help for People Exposed to Imerys Asbestos Products
People who developed mesothelioma after exposure to Imyers’ asbestos-contaminated talc will benefit from working with an experienced asbestos attorney. Your mesothelioma lawyer can help you file your trust fund claim with all necessary documentation and within the trust’s time limit.
Working with your lawyer, you can also explore potential claims against other responsible parties. You may be able to file claims with other asbestos trust funds or file lawsuits against other companies. Your lawyer will draw on their success, expertise and the details of your case to plan the best course forward to help you cover medical expenses and lost wages.
Finding the right attorney for you and your family is key. A Patient Advocate will listen to you and your needs and then connect you with a top attorney you’re comfortable working with. Your Patient Advocate will also offer constant support, arrange medical appointments with renowned mesothelioma specialists, connect you with patient and caregiver support groups, navigate insurance, help manage VA benefits claims and provide free resources. Their support provides a single point of contact as you explore both medical care and legal options.
Imerys Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Imerys has been named in thousands of lawsuits over asbestos-contaminated talc it supplied to major companies, including Johnson & Johnson. J&J used Imerys’ talc in its popular Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products.
Notable Imerys Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements
$117 million: Stephen Lanzo III and his wife received this jury verdict after he developed mesothelioma from decades of using Johnson & Johnson talc products. The verdict came in 2018, and Imerys, which supplied the talc, was responsible for $36 million.
$22 million: The family of Richard Booker received this jury verdict after he died of mesothelioma linked to asbestos in Imerys-supplied talc used at paint factories. The verdict was issued in 2017.
$5 million: Imerys settled with 22 women who developed ovarian cancer from Johnson & Johnson baby powder made with its talc. The settlement occurred in 2018.
When Imerys filed for bankruptcy in April 2019, J&J remanded about 2,400 lawsuits to federal courts across the U.S. Within a month, plaintiffs began challenging those removals, arguing they were improper and lacked jurisdiction.
Most of the J&J cases involve women who allege the talc caused ovarian cancer. A smaller share of lawsuits involves mesothelioma linked to contaminated talc.
Talc companies have covered up the dangerous health effects of asbestos-contaminated talc and how it leads to cancers such as mesothelioma. Many of these companies, including Johnson & Johnson, are now facing numerous asbestos talcum powder lawsuits.
Imerys is linked to asbestos through talc deposits contaminated with asbestos from the same rock formations. The company mined and processed talc used in cosmetic and industrial talc products.
The company supplied talc to major brands, including Johnson & Johnson, which face lawsuits that claim long‑term talcum powder use led to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Courts and regulators reviewed evidence showing asbestos contamination in certain historical talc products, and this evidence plays a key role in current and future claims against the Imerys Asbestos Trust fund.
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Imerys?
Asbestos‑contaminated talc dust from Imerys products put many groups at risk of exposure and asbestos‑related diseases. People who used talc‑based consumer products faced risk when they inhaled talc dust contaminated with toxic asbestos fibers. Patients exposed to medical talc also faced possible asbestos exposure.
Higher Risk Occupations
Agricultural workers
Ceramic workers
Construction workers
Cosmetic manufacturing staff
Freight or factory workers
Makeup artists
Mill workers
Miners
Painters
Retail workers
People who worked in or around Imerys talc mines and processing plants faced some of the highest exposure risks. Workers who used talc-based products in their jobs also faced occupational asbestos exposure. These groups can work with attorneys to review their history and explore compensation options through the Imerys Asbestos Trust fund and other sources.
Imerys’ Asbestos Products
Imerys supplied talc used within other asbestos products and in a variety of cosmetic and personal hygiene products. Talc was valued for its ability to give products a smooth and silky texture. It also absorbs moisture and reduces friction.
Products That Contained Imerys Talc
Avon talcum powder
Crys-Talc
ImerCare
Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder
Luzenac Pharma’s micronized talc
Shower to Shower
Vanderbilt industrial talc
Companies used this talc in items such as baby powder, cosmetics and paints, which exposed people over many years. Imerys also sold talc for pharmaceuticals and medical uses, though these products aren’t available now in the U.S. or Canada.
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D. Carl Money is an attorney at Nemeroff Law. He has devoted his career to fighting for workers diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families. Money has more than 25 years of experience fighting for people with asbestos-related diseases. He’s licensed in Texas, New York, England and Wales and belongs to various legal organizations across the U.S. and U.K.
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