Unarco (Union Asbestos and Rubber Company)

Unarco (Union Asbestos and Rubber Company) is currently a leading shopping cart manufacturer based in Wagoner, Oklahoma. In the past, the company used asbestos to produce construction materials. It filed for bankruptcy and established a trust fund after facing thousands of lawsuits from workers exposed to asbestos.

If you suffer from mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

Unarco History

Unarco was founded in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1941 and manufactured asbestos-containing insulation products.

The company’s success increased significantly over the next numerous years as the housing market in the nation began to grow, requiring a full line of insulation products and materials.

From turbines, pipes, boilers, and more, Unarco once dominated the insulation industry and continuously provided products to both commercial and residential customers.

In 1962, the company shifted its focus and started manufacturing and distributing commercial shopping carts. It changed its name to Unarco Commercial products, and the company relocated to Oklahoma.

Before the company switched its focus, it manufactured a slew of asbestos-containing products.

As a result, employees, contractors, and workers in different industries began filing asbestos-related lawsuits against the company.

Unarco Lawsuits and Bankruptcy

Even by the 1950s, Unarco faced employee lawsuits after workers began developing asbestos-related diseases.

The claims continued for several more decades until 1982, when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, making it the first asbestos-containing products manufacturer to ever file for bankruptcy.

Once Unarco filed for bankruptcy, however, numerous other asbestos manufacturing companies followed its lead.

For instance, in 1982, Johns Manville, a corporation with a long history of using asbestos in its products, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy just a few short months later.

UNR Trust

As part of its bankruptcy plan, Unarco eventually established an asbestos trust fund. Known as the UNR Trust, it was set up in February 1990, to compensate all pending and future asbestos-related claims.

Although the trust fund does not accept any asbestos-related claims from people exposed after 1982, numerous former employees who were around asbestos before 1982 are still filing claims.

There are medical requirements that must be in place before filing a claim for compensation with the UNR Trust, including:

• A 10-year latency period
• A clear diagnosis of mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illness
• Copies of all medical reports, including X-rays, CT scans, and pathology reports

Unarco’s History of Suppressing Information

As with many other asbestos manufacturers, Unarco hid known information that using asbestos would potentially cause life-threatening diseases.

During a 2007 trial in which a former employee filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against the company, the court determined that Unarco was liable for the worker’s toxic illness. It also found the company hid information that asbestos was dangerous to consumers and employees.

Unarco was ultimately ordered to pay the plaintiff $2.6 million.

Occupations Affected by Unarco

According to the UNR Trust’s official website, there were a wide variety of workers in several different industries that were injured by Unarco’s asbestos-containing products, including the following:

• Railroad Engineers
• Paper Mill Workers
• Steel Mill Workers
• Refinery Workers
• Petro Chemical Workers

Other occupations that were affected by Unarco’s asbestos-containing products include:

• Unarco employees
• Welders
• Boilermakers
• Pipe Fitters
• Construction Workers
• Factory Workers

Unarco Today

In 2003, Unarco developed a cart restoration program, and by 2006, started a cart restoration facility. It now focuses solely on manufacturing both metal and plastic shopping carts.

The company no longer uses asbestos in any of its products.

If you worked with or around Unarco products, talk to an asbestos law firm about your legal options.

Resources and Help for Asbestos Victims

Remember, if you or a loved one have been injured by asbestos, there is a great chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation for pain, suffering, medical expenses, and more. Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area.