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A.W. Chesterton Company

Fact checked and legally reviewed by Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. • Contributor & Legal Advisor

A.W. Chesterton Company, a former manufacturer of sealants, packing, gaskets, and pumps, used asbestos in its products from the 1920s through the 1980s, putting both workers and consumers at risk of exposure.

If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness linked to A.W. Chesterton products or workplace exposure, you may be entitled to pursue legal compensation.

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A.W. Chesterton Company & Asbestos Exposure

Founded in 1884 by Arthur Chesterton, the A.W. Chesterton Company began as a supplier to the engineering and steamboat industries. In 1895, the company introduced a line of sealing products, including pump packing and gaskets, which quickly became its most profitable division.

By the 1920s, A.W. Chesterton began incorporating asbestos into many of its products to improve heat resistance and durability at a lower cost. Despite increasing awareness across the manufacturing industry about the serious health risks of asbestos exposure, the company continued using it for more than six decades.

Throughout this period, A.W. Chesterton expanded both nationally and internationally, introducing new products such as heat-resistant pumps, lubricants, cleaners, sealants, and split seals, many of which also contained asbestos.

The company stopped using asbestos in the early 1980s. Today, A.W. Chesterton remains in operation, employing more than 1,000 people in 27 countries.

Dangers of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos refers to a group of six naturally occurring minerals that share similar structures and properties. All forms of asbestos break apart into thin, durable fibers that can easily become airborne, making them easy to inhale or ingest.

Once inside the body, these microscopic fibers can become lodged in tissues, where they do not break down. Over time, they can cause chronic irritation, scarring, and genetic damage, potentially leading to serious asbestos-related illnesses decades after initial exposure.

Asbestos-related illnesses include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Asbestosis 
• Other cancer
• Pleural effusions
• Pleural plaques
• Pleural thickening

One of the most serious and fatal asbestos-related diseases is mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, the thin lining that surrounds internal organs. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Treatment is often intensive and costly, with out-of-pocket expenses reaching up to $400,000 per year for some patients.

Given the devastating consequences of asbestos exposure, why did companies continue using it for so long?

The simple answer: profit. Asbestos was a cheap and effective way to enhance a product’s durability and resistance to heat, fire, and chemical damage. For many manufacturers, cost savings and convenience outweighed the risks to workers and public health.

Financial Compensation From A.W. Chesterton Company

A.W. Chesterton Company has never declared bankruptcy and does not operate an asbestos trust fund. Instead, the company handles all of its asbestos liability through settlements and lawsuits. 

There are two primary lawsuit types victims can use to seek legal compensation:

• Personal injury lawsuit: Allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: Allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Once a claim has been filed against an asbestos company like A.W. Chesterton, the defendant can choose whether to offer a settlement or take the claim to trial. While trial verdicts can be substantial, the process is costly and time-consuming. For this reason, many victims prefer the efficiency and security of a settlement.

Because asbestos was so widely used, many victims qualify for compensation from multiple companies. Working with an experienced asbestos attorney helps victims identify and pursue all available opportunities for compensation, maximizing potential award amounts.

Victims may also be eligible for other forms of financial support, including:

• Benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Workers’ compensation
• Treatment grants

Asbestos Lawsuits Against A.W. Chesterton Company

Richard Keeney

Richard developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos-containing products manufactured by A.W. Chesterton during his time serving in the U.S. Navy, where he handled many asbestos materials aboard vessels.

He filed suit against A.W. Chesterton and several other manufacturers and was awarded more than $5.5 million for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. 

Dennis Newinski

Dennis developed mesothelioma after handling asbestos-containing steam valves and packing materials from A.W. Chesterton during his work for Northern States Power Co. between 1964 and 2000.

He and his wife, Sharon, filed suit against A.W. Chesterton and several other companies. The jury assigned A.W. Chesterton 10% responsibility, and the couple was awarded $4.6 million.

Rhoda Evans

Bobby Evans worked for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, where he was regularly exposed to asbestos during his employment. But it was his wife, Rhonda, who eventually developed mesothelioma due to secondhand exposure.

The couple sued multiple manufacturers, including A.W. Chesterton Company, and were awarded a record-setting $208 million by a California jury. 

Warren Patterson 

Warren worked as a maintenance worker at New York Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and later as a drywaller, facing regular asbestos exposure from 1953 through the late 1970s. 

After he developed mesothelioma, he and his wife, Margaret, filed suit against A.W. Chesterton Company, seeking damages for his injuries. 

Gloria Craig

Gloria developed mesothelioma due to secondhand asbestos exposure from her ex-husband. He worked with A.W. Chesterton products at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., inadvertently bringing the hazardous particles home with him.

She filed suit against A.W. Chesterton and numerous other companies in 2023 to hold the negligent parties accountable for her pain and suffering.  

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at A.W. Chesterton Company

By the time the company ceased using asbestos as an additive in the 1980s, the majority of A.W. Chesterton products included it in some measure. The use of these products was widespread, exposing hundreds of thousands of people to the dangerous mineral.

A.W. Chesterton asbestos-contaminated products:

• A. W. Chesterton Asbestos Cloth
• A. W. Chesterton Gaskets
• A. W. Chesterton Packing
• Chesterton (Style 326, 300, 555, 550, 211, 281, 270, 235, 260, 2000, 124, 119)
• Chesterton Asbestos Rope (Style 296)
• Chesterton Asbestos Wick (Style 292)
• Chesterton Blu-Lon Acid Packing (Style 320) 
• Chesterton Candle Wick (Style 294)
• Chesterton Centrifugal Pump Packing for All Chemicals (Style 328)
• Chesterton Food Process Packing (Style 1725)
• Chesterton Gasket Tapes (Styles 290, 291-N)
• Chesterton Graphite Tape Packing
• Chesterton Graphite Packing (Style 375)
• Chesterton Multi-Service Packing (Style 370, 1722 White-Lon, & 322 White-Lon)
• Chesterton Power Plant Packing (Styles 1500, 64, 364-T, 350, & 5010)
• Chesterton Style One Super-Graphite
• Chesterton Super-Lon  (Styles 1724 & 324)
• Chesterton Super-Valvelon
• Chesterton Universal Packing (Styles 200 & 201) 
• Chesterton Valvelon

Occupations At-Risk

In addition to endangering those employed at A.W. Chesterton Company manufacturing locations, the company’s products also exposed end users and consumers who worked in a broad range of industries and professions.

High-risk occupations include:

• Chemical plant workers
• Hydrocarbon processors
• Hydroelectric power plant workers
• Industrial workers
• Manufacturing plant workers
• Mineral and ore processors
• Miners
• Nuclear power plant workers
• Oil refinery workers
• Pharmaceutical manufacturers
• Pulp and paper plant workers
• Shipyard workers
• Steel workers
• U.S. Navy veterans

Asbestos exposure wasn’t just a risk for workers. Secondhand exposure commonly occurred when asbestos fibers and particles were unknowingly carried home on hair, skin, and clothing. This means workers’ loved ones and family members may also face potential illness.

Get Help Today

Negligent companies like A.W. Chesterton must be held accountable for the suffering caused by their use of asbestos. Despite knowing the severe health risks, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, they continued to use asbestos for decades without warning employees or consumers.

As a result, hundreds of thousands of individuals were unknowingly exposed, leading to devastating health consequences. For these victims and their families, the impact extends beyond the physical, bringing emotional strain and significant financial hardship.

Our trusted legal partners have decades of experience guiding clients through the complexities of asbestos litigation. With the right support, filing a lawsuit can be a manageable, empowering step toward justice and potential compensation.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, don’t wait. Contact us today for a free consultation and to explore your options.