Rapid-American Corp./Philip Carey Manufacturing Corp.

Rapid-American Corp.’s History With Asbestos

Philip Carey Manufacturing began in Ohio in 1888 and built its business around insulation products for boilers, pipes, generators and other equipment. For nearly 80 years, the company mined asbestos and used it in a wide range of industrial materials.

In 1972, Philip Carey merged with Rapid-American Corporation, another Ohio-based company. The merger linked Rapid-American to decades of asbestos use in insulation and other products.

Because Philip Carey relied heavily on asbestos, workers and consumers faced dangerous exposure. Over time, Rapid-American and its related companies became the focus of thousands of legal claims tied to asbestos diseases like mesothelioma.

Rapid-American Bankruptcy and Legal Proceedings

To cope with mounting asbestos litigation, Rapid-American filed for bankruptcy in 2013 and created a liquidating trust. A liquidating trust works like a regular asbestos trust fund but is temporary. 

It collects the company’s remaining assets, pays claims for asbestos-related illnesses, and closes once the money runs out. The Rapid-American Asbestos Personal Injury Liquidating Trust began accepting claims on Nov. 28, 2022.

The trust reports most forms had to reach it before June 6, 2025. If you missed that deadline, contact a mesothelioma lawyer right away to see if you can still submit a claim or take other steps. Some claims require extra legal approval, and an experienced lawyer can help you request an extension if needed. Forms that aren’t returned on time may not be paid.

As of 2025, the trust expects to pay about 18% to 21% of the amount listed for each claim. All asbestos trusts pay only part of a claim so money is available for everyone. This trust’s rate is somewhat lower than for other trust funds, which usually pay 20% to more than 50%.

Philip Carey Asbestos Products

Philip Carey and its subsidiaries, including Carey Canada, used asbestos in industrial equipment like boilers, pipes, insulation and generators. Carey Canada also ran an asbestos mine in Quebec to supply these products.

Asbestos-Containing Products From Philip Carey

• Asbestos Magnesia Diatomite Rock Wool
• Carey-Canadian Asbestos 7RF Floats
• Carey Rock Wool
• Carey Stone
• Carey Thermo-Board concrete
• Fire-Chex Singles

These asbestos-containing products were commonly used across many industrial worksites, often without proper safety measures in place. As a result, countless workers were unknowingly exposed to toxic asbestos fibers.

Workers and Occupations at Risk

Asbestos fibers used in Philip Carey products could spread widely in industrial settings. Workers in these roles often handled insulation, boilers, pipes and other asbestos-containing materials directly, putting them at the greatest risk of exposure. 

Occupations With High Risk of Asbestos Exposure 

• Boiler workers
• Factory workers
• Industrial engineers 
• Insulators
• Machinists 
• Maintenance mechanics
• Metal workers 
• Railroad workers 
• Welders 

People who worked with Philip Carey equipment or asbestos-containing products before the 1970s faced a high risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. Diseases like mesothelioma often take many years, sometimes decades, to appear after the initial exposure. Anyone who believes they may have been at risk should talk to their doctor and schedule regular health screenings for early detection.

Notable Asbestos Lawsuits Against Rapid-American

Rapid-American began facing mesothelioma lawsuits in 1974 after acquiring Philip Carey. The thousands of claims created substantial financial pressure, and in its 2013 bankruptcy, the company listed an estimated 275,000 asbestos claims and $100 million to $500 million in debt from legal costs. Many of these claims involved employees and others exposed to asbestos from Philip Carey and Rapid-American products.

Key Mesothelioma Lawsuits

• Novicki v. Rapid-American: Julius L. Novicki worked 7 years as a welder and later developed mesothelioma. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 1997 against Rapid-American and 44 other companies. The defendants settled the case with Novicki’s family.
  
• Pustejovsky v. Rapid-American Corp.: Henry Pustejovsky worked as a metal worker from 1954 to 1979. He was diagnosed with asbestosis in 1982 and received compensation from another asbestos company. He developed mesothelioma in 1994 and sued Rapid-American. In 2010, the Texas Supreme Court ruled people can file a second lawsuit even after previous asbestos compensation.

These lawsuits highlight the long-term occupational asbestos exposure risks from Rapid-American and Philip Carey products. Workers in manufacturing, metalwork and other industrial jobs faced prolonged exposure, which led to asbestos-related diseases. The litigation demonstrates how courts have addressed multiple claims arising from the same exposure over decades.

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