The General Aniline and Film (GAF) Corporation is a roofing manufacturer. GAF used asbestos in many of its products in previous decades. GAF asbestos products exposed workers and consumers to asbestos, resulting in many cases of illness and lawsuits.
If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. FComplete nuestro formulario para obtener un Paquete de Compensación Financiera gratuito. Aprenderá sobre los abogados con experiencia en mesotelioma en su área, cómo recibir su pago en 90 días, cómo presentar una reclamación a los fondos fiduciarios de asbesto y más.
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Did GAF Use Asbestos?
GAF used asbestos in many of its products for years. It also acquired a company called Ruberoid that used asbestos in construction products. Ruberoid owned an asbestos mine in Vermont that supplied the company.
GAF History
GAF was established in Germany in 1929 under the company name I.G. Farben-industries, more commonly known as I.G. Dyes.
- In 1939, the company changed its name to General Aniline and Film (GAF) Corporation after purchasing General Aniline Works, a chemical company, and after merging with Agfa-Ansco Corporation, a photography supplies company.
- In 1942, the U.S. government seized GAF because of its German origins. The company was then managed by directors appointed by the government up until 1965. During this time, the company languished because the appointed directors poorly marketed its business.
- GAF went public in 1965 and shortly after bought the Ruberoid Corporation, a roofing company. The GAF Corporation became the company’s official public name in 1968.
- In the 1980s, GAF started manufacturing construction products distributed to home-building companies. This was a lucrative move for GAF, resulting in a spin-off roofing business for the building materials corporation.
- Despite its growth and success after going public, GAF faced a series of asbestos-related lawsuits, mainly stemming from asbestos Ruberoid products.
- Once GAF purchased Ruberoid, it took on all of its pending and future asbestos cases. These included claims resulting from a Virginia asbestos mine that GAF acquired with the purchase of Ruberoid.
After facing thousands of costly asbestos lawsuits, GAF eventually filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001.
GAF Lawsuits and Bankruptcy
GAF became one of the biggest companies during the 1980s to face asbestos claims. Before filing for bankruptcy, GAF helped create the Asbestos Claims Facility. The Facility assisted large companies in defending or settling asbestos-related claims.
The Asbestos Claims Facility didn’t last long, but GAF continued with the company after reorganizing and renaming itself the Center for Claims Resolution.
Despite its attempts to settle claims without filing, GAF was eventually forced to declare bankruptcy. By 2000, the company was facing over 70,000 cases. By 2001, GAF had spent over $1 billion in claim settlements.
The costs of mounting claims proved to be too much, and in 2001, GAF filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a reorganization plan for GAF consisted of establishing an asbestos trust fund. The G-I Holdings Inc. Trust compensates victims pending asbestos-related cases against the company and any future asbestos-related cases.
The trust fund was created in 2009 after GAF emerged from bankruptcy. The company funded the asbestos trust fund with $770 million.
Occupations Affected by GAF Asbestos Products
Most workers affected by GAF stem from those who worked in the Virginia asbestos mine.
Once GAF acquired Ruberoid, it became responsible for its properties, including the asbestos mine. Many occupations were affected by GAF’s and Ruberoid’s asbestos-containing products, including:
- Asbestos installers
- Miners
- Pintores
- Fontaneros
- trabajadores de HVAC
- Power plant workers
- Oil refinery workers
- Asbestos removers
- Workers in the Ruberoid manufacturing facilities
- Techadores
- trabajadores de la construcción
Además, consumers were also placed at risk because of the asbestos-containing construction materials shipped to many companies during the 1980s.
GAF Asbestos-Containing Products
GAF manufactured and sold many asbestos-containing products, including the following:
- Aristo and Imperial insulation
- Insulation cement
- Pipe coverings
- Asbestos paper
- Roofing felt
- Painting products
- Vinyl Flooring
- Sponge felts
- Luran
- Ruberoid Air Cell
- Woolfelt
- Wallocell
What to Do if You Were Exposed to GAF Asbestos Products
You can work with an asbestos lawyer to seek compensation if working with GAF asbestos products led to an asbestos illness.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can help you file a claim with the GAF Trust and give you the best chance of receiving fair compensation. They can also determine if any other companies are liable for your illness and provide other options for seeking compensation.
Additional Resources and Legal Information for Asbestos Victims
If you’ve been injured by asbestos, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our form to get 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.
