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 Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed by Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited by Amy Edel | Last Update: May 15, 2025
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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.
Western MacArthur Asbestos Products
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 when they made asbestos products could also be at risk for health issues.
Workers Exposed to Western MacArthur Asbestos Products
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 happened as well. Workers didn’t know they could carry the fibers home on clothing, hair and skin.
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’ 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.
Thousands of asbestos lawsuits compromised the 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 trust’s 2024 annual report recorded trust funds at more than $413.5 million. In 2020, the trust released an amendment that updated the average case values. The average value of mesothelioma claims for California claimants is $524,025. The trust’s payment percentage is deducted from the payout. This ensures enough funds remain in the trust.
In April 2024, the trust maintained its payment percentage at 51.1%. This percentage is significantly higher than other asbestos trusts. It results in a payout of $267,776 for mesothelioma claims in California.
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 make a claim with their 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. This is a rule that says you only have a certain amount of time to file a claim. The amount of time depends on the state where you live.
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 make sure you talk to a lawyer with experience filing trust fund claims.
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Whitmer, M. (2025, May 15). Western MacArthur. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 15, 2025, from https://www.asbestos.com/companies/western-macarthur/
Whitmer, Michelle. "Western MacArthur." Asbestos.com, 15 May 2025, https://www.asbestos.com/companies/western-macarthur/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "Western MacArthur." Asbestos.com. Last modified May 15, 2025. 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.
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