Western MacArthur manufactured asbestos pipe covering and other insulation products from 1913 until the late 1970s. Asbestos litigation forced the company to file for bankruptcy in 2002. In 2004, a trust fund was established with $2 billion to compensate victims.
Written by D. Carl Money | Scientifically Reviewed by Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited by Walter Pacheco | Last Update: January 15, 2026
"My primary support since being diagnosed with Mesothelioma, ...." see more
Mary L. - Mesothelioma Patient
"I found out about The Mesothelioma Center while researching ...." see more
Karen F. - Mesothelioma Patient
"I just want to take this time to thank Mesothelioma Center f...." see more
Richard D. - Mesothelioma Patient
"My brother was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. I began...." see more
Cindy W. - Sister of a Mesothelioma Patient
"My father was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. We, as a...." see more
Cindy R. - Daughter of a Mesothelioma Patient
Thousands of asbestos lawsuits compromised Western MacArthur’s finances. They forced the company to file for bankruptcy in November 2002. It reorganized in 2004 and established the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust with $2 billion. The asbestos trust fund has paid out more than $1.6 billion in claims.
The current payment percentage is 51.1%. Unlike other asbestos trusts, the Western MacArthur trust has different average values depending on the location of your asbestos exposure.
| Disease Type | California (CA) | Minnesota (MN) | North Dakota (ND) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesothelioma | $524,025 | $316,250 | $117,087 |
| Lung Cancer | $199,195 | $137,050 | $44,777 |
| Other Cancer | $75,000 | $73,800 | $16,884 |
The trust’s 2024 annual report recorded trust funds at more than $413.5 million. The trust has certain eligibility criteria. It requires a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease. You must prove exposure to Western MacArthur’s asbestos products. The exposure had to take place at a shipyard, refinery, power plants or other approved site. At least 10 years must have passed since the first exposure to asbestos and the diagnosis.
Legal help is available if you have mesothelioma. If you got sick from Western MacArthur’s asbestos products, you may qualify for compensation. You may be able to file a claim with their company’s trust fund. Compensation can help pay medical bills and make up for money you couldn’t earn.
You must file within the statute of limitations, which is a rule that limits the time you have to file a claim. The amount of time depends on the state you live in.
You can learn about how asbestos trust funds work from our Patient Advocates. They can also connect you with a vetted asbestos lawyer who has filed claims with the Western asbestos trust. You want to ensure you talk to a lawyer with experience in filing trust fund claims.
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
Get Help NowWestern MacArthur has been named in thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits. It merged with Western Asbestos, which was also named in litigation. Western Asbestos became a Bay Area distributor of Johns Manville asbestos products in the 1930s.
A California jury awarded $500,000 to Jack and Rose Kaminski in 1985. Jack worked with asbestos products at Bethlehem Shipyard in San Francisco. He used Western Asbestos’s cloth and pipe insulation. He developed mesothelioma 40 years later.
People have filed personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against the company. These are product liability lawsuits. They usually claim negligent exposure to asbestos and failure to warn about the health risks.
In 1913, the MacArthur Company began making asbestos pipe coverings. Integrating asbestos into its products put those who manufactured them and those who used them at risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
The company merged with Western Asbestos in the 1960s and formed Western MacArthur. It continued making asbestos products until the late 1970s.
Like many other companies in its line of business, Western MacArthur used asbestos because the fibers added strength, durability and heat resistance. The use of asbestos eventually resulted in lawsuits. Workers filed lawsuits seeking compensation related to their mesothelioma.
Despite filing for bankruptcy in 2002, it has remained one of the largest insulation suppliers in the construction industry. Today, the company distributes a variety of construction materials.
Western MacArthur’s asbestos products exposed employees, construction workers and anyone who worked with the products on the job. This exposure puts them at risk for health issues such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Workers who manufactured Western MacArthur asbestos products faced higher exposure. Anyone living near a plant where asbestos products could also be at risk for health issues.
Higher Risk Jobs
Construction workers who handled Western MacArthur products came into direct contact with asbestos. Western MacArthur products were used in the construction of buildings, and some remain in older structures today, continuing to pose an asbestos exposure risk.
Secondary exposure among family members also occurred. Workers didn’t know they could carry the fibers home on clothing, hair and skin.
Western MacArthur manufactured insulation cements and pipe coverings for high-heat applications in shipyards and industrial plants. Handling these products can create major asbestos exposure risks.
Western MacArthur Asbestos-Containing Products
People who installed or repaired these items also face higher instances of mesothelioma and lung cancer. Family members of people who work with asbestos-containing materials are also at risk of breathing in toxic asbestos dust through secondary asbestos exposure.
Recommended ReadingStay up-to-date on treatment, research, clinical trials, doctors and survivors
The information on this website is proprietary and protected. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any unauthorized or illegal use, copying or dissemination will be prosecuted. Please read our privacy policy and terms of service for more information about our website.
This website and its content may be deemed attorney advertising. Prior results do not predict a similar outcome.
The Mesothelioma Center’s claim as the most trusted resource is based on our more than 150 5-star Google and BBB reviews. Our organization also helps more than half of all mesothelioma patients annually diagnosed.
Your web browser is no longer supported by Microsoft. Update your browser for more security, speed and compatibility.
If you are looking for mesothelioma support, please contact our Patient Advocates at (855) 404-4592
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
Asbestos.com. (2026, January 20). Western MacArthur Trust Fund and Lawsuits. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/companies/western-macarthur/
"Western MacArthur Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Asbestos.com, 20 Jan 2026, https://www.asbestos.com/companies/western-macarthur/.
Asbestos.com. "Western MacArthur Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Last modified January 20, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/western-macarthur/.
An occupational scientist or another expert who specializes in occupational hazards reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current scientific standards and accuracy.
Sean Fitzgerald, PG, is a research geologist specializing in asbestos environmental studies.
Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.
Please read our editorial guidelines to learn more about our content creation and review process.
