W.R. Grace & Co.

W.R. Grace’s Connection to Asbestos

W.R. Grace has a long history of using asbestos in its products, including cement, plaster, fireproofing spray and surface materials. W.R. Grace also mined vermiculite in Libby, Montana. The mines were contaminated with asbestos, which is the main cause of mesothelioma.

The company bought the Zonolite Company in 1963 and ran a processing plant in Easthampton, Massachusetts from 1963 to 1992. After that, the site was rented to JPS Acquisition Elastomerics until 2000. W.R. Grace had to clean up the soil at the site since the vermiculite work had polluted it. In April 2001, the company filed for bankruptcy protection.

W.R. Grace’s Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Mono-Kote Cement
• Mono-Kote Fireproofing
• Zono-Coustic
• Zonolite Acoustical Plaster
• Zonolite Econowhite
• Zonolite Fireproofing
• Zonolite High-Temperature Insulating Cement
• Zonolite Insulating Cement
• Zonolite MK-1 & MK-2 Spray Insulation
• Zonolite Plaster

In 2005, W.R. Grace and its top leaders were charged with hiding the health risks of asbestos in Libby and slowing cleanup efforts. Records showed they knew about the dangers since the 1970s. In 2009, a jury found them not guilty. Many in Libby were disappointed, blaming limits on evidence and the timing of the mine’s closure.

“A human and environmental tragedy has occurred in Libby,” said William W. Mercer, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Department of Justice, in a 2005 statement. “This prosecution seeks to hold Grace and its executives responsible for the misconduct alleged,” Mercer stated.

Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From W.R. Grace?

Many workers who handled raw materials for W.R. Grace or used its products were exposed to asbestos on the job. This puts them at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. W.R. Grace workers were in mines, mills and factories, while some also moved vermiculite and other asbestos products for the company.

People who worked in home improvement and used W.R. Grace products were also at a higher risk of asbestos exposure. Those who installed insulation or used Zonolite insulation in their homes could be exposed.

Occupations at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From W.R. Grace’s Products

• Carpenters
• Construction workers
• Demolition workers
• Factory workers
• HVAC technicians
• Insulators
• Mill workers
• Miners
• Painters
• Plant workers

Some family members of W.R. Grace workers were exposed to asbestos accidentally brought home on clothes, skin and hair. This is called secondary asbestos exposure. People who lived, worked or went to school near the Libby mine or W.R. Grace’s factories were also exposed to asbestos from pollution in the air.

More than 2,000 miles from Libby, people in New York City were exposed to W.R. Grace’s asbestos products in the north tower of the World Trade Center. First responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks faced health threats from Zonolite Mono-Kote, a spray-on fireproofing that contained asbestos.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits Involving W.R. Grace

Mesothelioma lawsuits against W.R. Grace sought compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. As legal actions mounted, the company eventually declared bankruptcy to end litigation against it. Through the bankruptcy process, the company established asbestos trust funds, which began accepting claims in 2014. 

While the bankruptcy and asbestos trust fund process ends lawsuits against a company, one key piece of litigation filed when W.R. Grace was in bankruptcy was permitted to proceed. Montana officials sued W.R. Grace over environmental damage in Libby. Montana and the company eventually agreed to an $18.5 million settlement in 2023. The company will pay the amount plus interest over 10 years.

W.R. Grace had been ordered to pay $250 million in 2008 to cover future cleanup costs for the town of Libby. This was 6 years after it was placed on the EPA’s Superfund list. 

Some people have also sued other companies related to W.R. Grace over their part in asbestos contamination. Ralph Hutt named W.R. Grace’s insurance company as the defendant in his suit. A Montana jury awarded Hutt $36.5 million in 2022. They agreed the company’s workers’ comp provider failed to ensure safety.

W.R. Grace Asbestos Trust Funds

The company filed for bankruptcy in April 2001 to deal with more than 129,000 claims from people with mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. In 2008, W.R. Grace shared a plan to settle with those involved. That plan included the creation of an asbestos trust fund. After some changes, the plan was approved, and W.R. Grace officially emerged from bankruptcy on February 3, 2014.

As part of the plan, the WRG Asbestos PI Trust was created. It pays people who got sick from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The trust was initially funded with $3 billion available to claimants. 

Key WRG Asbestos PI Trust Updates

• 2024: In May, trustees for the WRG Asbestos PI Trust changed how it pays claims, setting a new adjustment rate of 1%.
• 2023: Trustees reduced the payment percentage for injury claims to 31.7%. This was higher than many other asbestos trusts.
• 2021: The trust no longer requires notarized authentication of exposure evidence and will accept the signature of one witness.
• 2017: The trust changed the statute of limitations, allowing claimants to file for injuries before 2001 through February 2018.
• 2014: The trust began accepting personal injury claims on August 25.

Security and Exchange Commission filings show that as of June 30, 2021, W.R. Grace had $109.4 million in legacy environmental response costs. The current payment percentage applicable to claims against the WRG Asbestos PI Trust is 30.1%. 

A second trust fund was also created in 2014. This second trust fund is the Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust, which funds property damage claims.

Legal Help for Survivors Exposed to W.R. Grace’s Asbestos

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease from W.R. Grace’s products, an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help. Skilled mesothelioma attorneys can guide you through the process of filing an asbestos trust fund claim.

Your attorney will make sure your trust fund claim is filed correctly and within the trust’s required time frame. The sooner you file, the quicker you’ll receive money to help pay for medical bills and lost income.Patient Advocates at The Mesothelioma Center can connect you with a lawyer you can feel comfortable working with for your trust fund claim. Our Patient Advocates are also available to match you with the right mesothelioma specialists for your specific needs, support groups and resources for you and your family.

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