Johns-Manville Corporation was formed in 1901. The company offered a line of
automotive sheet backing, asbestos cement, asbestos-based insulation, and roofing materials.
The company grew rapidly during both World Wars because it was able to contract with the
federal government, which used asbestos based insulation for manufacturing, in shipyards, and
on naval fleets. Additionally, Johns-Manville Corporation produced fiberglass insulation and
asbestos cement pipe. The company developed an international presence and grew rapidly.
As early as the 1920s, physicians recognized that exposure to asbestos caused severe
sickness when asbestosis was identified by British medical journals. At the same time, insurance companies in the United States and Canada stopped selling life insurance to asbestos workers. Moreover, safer substitutes for most asbestos uses were known as early as the 1930s. Nevertheless, John-Manville chose to protect its substantial profit margins rather than discontinue use of the mineral.
In 1933 Johns-Manville began to settle worker's compensation claims of its employees
that arose from asbestos exposure in manufacturing facilities. Nevertheless, Johns-Manville
used asbestos until 1985. Some products, which used asbestos were asbestos-paper, block
insulation, cement board, cements, cloth, electrical products, gaskets, felt, floor tile, packing
seals, pipe covering, piping, roofing products, siding and wallboard. Thus, Johns-Manville
placed the health and safety of its workers, naval crews, and customers in grave danger.
Even worse, Johns-Manville helped fund the cover-up of the truth that asbestos is
dangerous.
In 1970, Johns-Manville formed an organization called the Asbestos Information
North America (AIA) and provided the group with a $300,000 annual budget. The purpose of
the group was to produce faux-scientific studies to undermine research, which had shown the
danger of asbestos to human beings. Thus, the company attempted to conceal the danger of
asbestos by deliberately rebutting science with disinformation.
In 1981 the company filed for bankruptcy protection due to the asbestos based injuries it
caused. Unlike most company's entering bankruptcy, however, Johns-Manville was not
insolvent. The company reported $1.1 billion of profits that year. The company was seeking to
shield itself from the claims of individuals whom it had harmed for decades. In 1988 the
company emerged from bankruptcy. A trust was created to compensate future asbestos injury claims. If you or a loved one has been injured by Johns-Manville, it is important that you
contact Gori Julian & Associates immediately for more information on your rights.
