Gold Bond was a brand of wallboard made by the National Gypsum Company. Made with asbestos, Gold Bond caused exposure in many workers and even some consumers. National Gypsum faced asbestos lawsuits and eventually filed for bankruptcy due to the resulting costs.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, remember that you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for victims of asbestos-related diseases. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more.
Did Gold Bond and National Gypsum Use Asbestos?
National Gypsum today is a major manufacturer of gypsum wallboard for the construction industry. In the past, it used asbestos in many of its products. The Gold Bond brand of wallboard contained the most asbestos.
Gold Bond History
National Gypsum was established in 1925 by Melvin H. Baker, Clarence E. Williams, and Joseph F. Haggerty. They began the company to sell their innovative wallboard product.
- The name Gold Bond came from National Gypsum’s flexible, lightweight wallboard. The company sold each batch with a $5,000 “gold bond” guarantee certificate that stated the product was far superior to any other similar product.
- The wallboard became so popular that it spun into its own name and own division in the company: Gold Bond.
- The National Gypsum Company was one of the few companies to survive and remain in business after the Great Depression. It expanded considerably, acquiring many subsidiaries and creating new products. Its Gold Bond wallboard and wallboard-related products remain its most popular products.
- The success of Gold Bond led to the expansion of National Gypsum’s product line to include rock wool, acoustic tiles, siding, adhesives, textured paint, cement, and more. Gold Bond became a separate division in the 1960s.
- Before the risks of asbestos use were widely known, National Gypsum marketed numerous asbestos-containing products under the Gold Bond brand and other names.
- From 1950 until 1970, employees, contractors, and consumers risked developing asbestos illnesses due to Gold Bond products.
- Eventually, many people were diagnosed with diseases such as asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and malignant mesothelioma. Thousands of lawsuits followed, and National Gypsum filed for bankruptcy in 1993.
National Gypsum emerged from bankruptcy in 1993. Gold Bond was no longer a division but remained a brand name.
National Gypsum and Gold Bond Asbestos Products
Construction materials like those made under the Gold Bond name contained asbestos for its ability to insulate, strengthen materials, and protect against fire.
The following products were once made with asbestos:
- Gold Bond Plasters
- Gypsolite
- E-Z Soak
- All-Purpose Joint Compound
- Gold Bond Abestone
- Gold Bond Siding
- Gold Bond Asbestos Cement Board
- Gold Bond Non-perforated Asbestos Panels
- Gold Bond Asbestos Permaboard
- Gold Bond Plasticrylic Panels
- Gold Bond Humiguard Asbestos Panels
- Gold Bond Sprayolite
- Gold Bond Joint Compounds
- Gold Bond Natcor
- Gold Bond Texture Paint
- Gold Bond Fire-Shield Plaster
Other National Gypsum brands and products with asbestos include:
- Asbestone
- Bloc-Fil
- Decorite
- E-Z Soak
- Flexfelt
- Gypsolite
- Permaboard
- Sprayolite
Who Was at Risk of Exposure to Gold Bond Asbestos Products?
National Gypsum employees who made products with asbestos were at high risk of exposure. By handling and manipulating asbestos materials, they released harmful fibers into the air of the workspace. Anyone in the area could inhale the asbestos fibers.
The risk of exposure to Gold Bond asbestos extended to many other workers in industries that used the products. At most risk were construction workers and anyone else working on construction sites, including:
- Insulators
- Laborers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Painters
- Drywallers
- HVAC workers
Any construction workers who sanded Gold Bond asbestos products faced very high risks of ongoing exposure to asbestos dust.
Gold Bond Lawsuits
The asbestos exopsure Gold Bond products caused led to illness in many people. Some of these workers filed lawsuits against National Gypsum and Gold Bond to hold them liable and recover damages.
In one case, the widow of a pipefitter sued National Gypsum and other companies after her husband died from an asbestos illness. His work involved cutting into pipes with asbestos insulation. He could identify Gold Bond by its distinctive brand label on products he worked with. The courts determined this was adequate to hold the company liable for his illness.
In another case, Mercer University sued National Gypsum and other companies for supplying the school with asbestos materials without warnings. Mercer later had to replace all the asbestos materials. It sued the companies for damages related to the costs of abatement and replacement.
National Gypsum Bankruptcy and Asbestos Trust Fund
With lawsuits beginning in the 1970s and continuing for decades, the National Gypsum Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990.
Now known as NCG, the new company doesn’t manufacture asbestos-containing products. Its past use of asbestos made it liable for many mesothelioma cases and similar illnesses.
A bankruptcy provision was that National Gypsum was required to develop a reorganization plan, which entailed setting up an asbestos trust fund that would compensate all pending and future asbestos-related claims.
Once the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Asbestos Claims Facility took over all National Gypsum asbestos-related claims.
In 2002, National Gypsum placed $347 million into the NGC Bodily Injury Trust, which protects the company from future asbestos lawsuits and pays off all pending and future claims.
If You Were Exposed to Gold Bond Asbestos Products
If you worked with Gold Bond products, you could be at risk for an asbestos illness. Talk to your doctor about appropriate screenings and any symptoms you experience.
Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to learn more about your legal options. They can help you make a successful claim with the trust fund if you qualify. They can also determine if you can hold other companies liable for past asbestos exposure. You may have several options for seeking compensation.
Additional Resources and Legal Information for Asbestos Victims
If you’ve been injured by asbestos, there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our form for your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
