Pittsburgh Corning

Pittsburgh Corning manufactures glass products. In the past, the company used asbestos in insulation. This use, and the acquisition of other companies that used asbestos, resulted in lawsuits over asbestos exposure and eventual bankruptcy and reorganization.

With more than $30 billion currently set aside in trust funds, you may qualify for substantial compensation if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.

Pittsburgh Corning History

Pittsburgh Corning Corporation began in 1937 manufacturing architectural glass blocks. The company started as a combined effort of two leading businesses: Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPG Industries) and Corning Glass Works.

For close to 50 years, the company manufactured and distributed the architectural glass block while adding a few other key products along the way, including the advanced FOAMGLAS® and various other glass products.

In 1962, enjoying massive financial success, Pittsburgh Corning decided to expand its business by purchasing the Unibestos product line from UNARCO, a company associated with using high amounts of asbestos in its products.

Many of the products from the Unibestos line contained a specific type of asbestos, known as amosite. Amosite asbestos has been linked with malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

When Pittsburgh Corning bought the Unibestos product line, it also acquired the Unibestos manufacturing plants and exclusive rights to the products’ formulas.

One plant, in particular, located in Tyler, Texas, was found to have significant amounts of asbestos. Another plant, located in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, was also found to have hazardous amounts of asbestos.

Instead of providing safety measures to both plants, Pittsburgh Corning broke the equipment down at the Tyler plant and stopped its operations.

By the time the Tyler plant was discontinued in 1972, many workers were beginning to develop toxic, life-threatening illnesses due to prolonged asbestos exposure. Soon after, asbestos-related claims began pouring in against Pittsburgh Corning.

Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Lawsuits and Bankruptcy

By the late 1970s, Pittsburgh Corning was in the hot seat, facing mounting mesothelioma lawsuits.

One well-known case involved a class action lawsuit against Pittsburgh Corning and several other companies, filed by 20 former workers of the Tyler, Texas plant.

Both sides eventually settled the lawsuit for $20 million, but many additional lawsuits and claims followed.

In 2000, Pittsburgh Corning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania denied the company’s plan for reorganization.

However, in 2013, after a decade in bankruptcy, the company finally won the court’s approval to create a reorganization plan to help pay off its mounting debt connected to asbestos claims.

According to a 139-page opinion, a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Judith K. Fitzgerald, determined that the company had successfully addressed the issues that would help carry out plans to pay the claims.

An initial $3.5 billion was placed in the asbestos trust fund to cover over 400,000 pending asbestos lawsuits. Some of the funding came from:

• $290 million in either cash or stocks
• $1.7 billion from insurance companies
• $825 million and 1.4 million stock shares from PPG Industries

Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Products

The majority of asbestos claims came from Pittsburgh Corning’s purchase of the Unibestos product line, which included asbestos in:

• Equipment
• Cement
• Finishes
• Pipe insulation
• Textiles
• Gaskets

Pipe insulation remains the primary product that caused so many workers to develop asbestos-related diseases. Along with installing the pipe insulation, workers also had to uninstall, repair, and re-install the product.

Workers were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers, linked to some of the most life-threatening types of illnesses.

Contact an asbestos law firm if you worked with Pittsburgh Corning products and now have an asbestos illness. Experienced lawyers can help you seek compensation.

Additional Help and Resources for Asbestos Victims

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, there is a good chance you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.