Johns Manville

Johns Manville’s Connection to Asbestos

Johns Manville began more than 160 years ago and grew into the world’s largest maker of asbestos products. Starting with insulation and later expanding into roofing, siding and flooring, the company used asbestos in dozens of materials sold across homes, schools, and industrial worksites.

Asbestos exposure from Johns Manville products caused thousands of cases of mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Johns Manville’s asbestos legacy shows how widespread exposure and disease forced major changes across the construction and manufacturing industries.

The impact of Johns Manville’s asbestos use continues today. In June 2022, the Environmental Law & Policy Center reported flooding linked to climate change could spread asbestos from a Johns Manville Superfund site in Illinois into neighborhoods near Lake Michigan, increasing risks for nearby residents.

Johns Manville Asbestos Products

Johns Manville made asbestos products for insulation, roofing and siding that were widely used in homes, schools and industrial settings. These materials exposed workers and the public to dangerous asbestos fibers.

Top Johns Manville Asbestos Products

• 352 Insulating Cement
• Asbestoguard Adhesives
• Colorbestos Siding Sheets
• Fibrocel Insulation
• Flexstone Asbestos Roofs
• Insulkote Weatherproofing
• Johns Manville Colorbestos Shingles
• Thermobestos Block Insulation
  

These products played a major role in construction throughout much of the 20th century. Because asbestos fibers were released during installation, repair or removal, they left workers and nearby communities at risk of long-term health effects.

Jobs at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Johns Manville Products

Mining, factory and construction jobs at Johns Manville put thousands of people in direct contact with asbestos. Shipping raw asbestos across the U.S. and abroad also spread exposure beyond company worksites.

Many workers ended their shifts covered in asbestos dust, which clung to their clothes, boots and gear. This put their families at risk of secondary exposure that could later lead to mesothelioma.

Jobs With Higher Risk of Asbestos Exposure

• Carpenters
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Factory workers
• Industrial plant workers
• Miners
• Painters
• Pipefitters
• Roofers
• Textile workers
  

Johns Manville knew the dangers decades before warning workers. In 1933, Dr. Anthony Lanza, medical director at Metropolitan Life, told company officials about asbestos health risks but advised against informing employees. In 1949, Dr. Kenneth Smith reported chest X-ray signs of asbestosis in 7 workers. 

Rather than share the results, Johns Manville’s president made secrecy company policy. Later reports showed 1 in 5 workers had asbestosis, yet Metropolitan Life blocked government inspections.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits Involving Johns Manville 

Between its first official complaint in 1929 that settled for $30,000 to  $90.5 million in wrongful death verdicts to 11 families, Johns Manville spent millions in litigation over asbestos cancer. The company was also part of some historic asbestos lawsuits.

After years of legal action, including the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear an appeal, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ 1973 ruling in favor of industrial insulation worker Clarence Borel’s widow stood. Johns Manville was one of 11 companies named in the historic mesothelioma lawsuit. The court stated the core issue was the defendant manufacturers’ failure to warn Borel about the dangers of working with asbestos-containing products. 

During WWII, workers at Consolidated Steel Shipyard who developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases filed lawsuits against Johns Manville over asbestos insulation. Johns Manville claimed it didn’t know asbestos was dangerous in the 1940s. But company records showed they knew the decade before.

Johns Manville Asbestos Trust Funds

Johns Manville created an asbestos trust fund during its bankruptcy proceedings to cover future claims from people diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions. The Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust was approved in 1988 and was originally funded with $2.5 billion.

At first, the company expected about 100,000 claims, but in reality, it received several hundred thousand. To respond, Johns Manville added another $520 million and revised its claims process. Currently, the trust pays about 5.1% of the full claim value. Trust documents indicate that, as of 2023, the trust still had more than $600 million available.

People who file a claim with the trust may receive compensation ranging from $600 to $350,000. The actual amount depends on several factors, including medical costs. To qualify, you must provide proof of an asbestos-related diagnosis and demonstrate that Johns Manville was responsible for your exposure. Family members can also file if a loved one has passed away as a result of asbestos exposure.

Legal Help for People Exposed to Johns Manville’s Asbestos

An experienced asbestos attorney can guide you through filing a claim with the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, whether you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, or have lost a loved one to one of these diseases. A lawyer will make sure you have the right documentation and that your claim is filed correctly.

If you’re unsure about how to choose the right mesothelioma lawyer, need help filing both asbestos trust fund claims and VA claims or want information about other forms of financial assistance, our Patient Advocates are here to help. The Mesothelioma Center team is available 24/7 to support you and your family. They can connect you with leading doctors, support groups, schedule medical appointments and also help you manage insurance issues. All of these services are completely free.

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