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FMC Corporation 

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

FMC Corporation was a global company specializing in industrial equipment and specialty chemicals. However, most of its asbestos liability stems from acquisitions it made during the mid-20th century.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by asbestos exposure linked to FMC Corporation or its subsidiaries, you may be eligible for legal compensation.

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FMC Corporation & Asbestos Exposure

FMC was founded in 1884 in California as a manufacturer of agricultural hand spray pumps. However, its relationship with asbestos did not begin until the 1930s when it acquired Peerless Pump Company.

Most of FMC’s asbestos liability stems from the acquisition of several companies in the mid-20th century, including:

• Peerless Pump Company: Owned 1932-1976. It became part of FMC’s Hydrodynamics Division, but its products often contained asbestos gaskets and packing.
• Chicago Pump Company: Owned 1954-1980. It operated as a division of FMC, manufacturing pumps contaminated with asbestos for municipal, industrial, and wastewater applications. 
• Northern Pumps: Owned 1963-1982. FMC owned the rights to the Northern Pumps^® industrial pump product line. It manufactured and marketed Northern Pumps’ products, which were used in both commercial and military applications.

Although FMC sold off these subsidiaries, it’s still liable for the asbestos products and activities that occurred during its ownership period. Like many asbestos manufacturers, FMC ignored the serious risks posed by its asbestos use to both the public and the environment.

FMC still exists today, but it has been split into two separate companies.​​ FMC Corporation is the company’s chemical branch, and FMC Technologies is the machinery business. These businesses employ more than 6,500 people.

Dangers of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos refers to a group of six naturally occurring minerals known for their fibrous structure and shared characteristics. These minerals break down into long, tough fibers that resist heat, fire, electricity, and chemical damage, making them highly durable and non-conductive.

Because of these properties and its affordability, asbestos became a staple in many industrial applications, especially in the industrial equipment sector, throughout the 20th century. Its widespread utility led some companies, including FMC Corporation and its subsidiaries, to overlook or conceal the serious health risks it posed to both workers and consumers.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, whether through mining, manufacturing, repairing, removing, or other handling, tiny fibers can become airborne and easily enter the body. 

Once inhaled or ingested, these fibers become embedded in tissues and may remain there for decades, triggering inflammation, scarring, and cellular damage that can lead to life-threatening diseases.

Diseases caused by asbestos exposure include:

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

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the protective lining surrounding internal organs, known as the mesothelium. It’s exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and is notoriously difficult and expensive to treat, often costing patients over $400,000 per year in out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Financial Compensation From FMC Corporation 

Despite significant asbestos liabilities, FMC Corporation has never declared bankruptcy or established an asbestos trust fund to compensate victims. Instead, it handles claims through a combination of insurance, settlements, and lawsuits.

There are two primary types of asbestos lawsuits available to victims pursuing 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.

Due to the extensive use of asbestos and the close connections between various manufacturers, many individuals exposed to asbestos can often link their exposure to multiple companies.

A skilled asbestos attorney can help identify all responsible parties and pursue claims against each one, thereby increasing the likelihood of securing full and fair compensation.

In addition, your lawyer can help explore other potential avenues for financial recovery, including:

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

Asbestos Lawsuits Against FMC Corporation 

James Morgan

James Morgan developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure during his work as a shipyard worker and pipefitter. He sued more than 50 companies, including FMC, which were allegedly responsible for his injuries.

Although Morgan died before the conclusion of his case, his wife, Kay, has continued to pursue justice and compensation.

Walter Tatera

Walter Tatera worked for a contractor on FMC’s premises, where exposure to asbestos-contaminated friction disks led to his eventual death from mesothelioma.

After his death, his family and estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit against FMC. Unfortunately, the company was able to successfully argue that it did not bear responsibility for his injuries, as it did not manufacture the parts in question. 

Leisa Davis

Leisa Davis filed a wrongful death lawsuit against FMC (for Peerless Pumps) on behalf of her late husband, who died of mesothelioma after working with asbestos components during his time as a laborer and boiler operator.

FMC sought summary judgment, and the case was dismissed due to a lack of strong evidence linking Davis’s exposure to FMC’s specific products. 

Thomas Deem

Thomas Deem died of asbestos-related injuries sustained during his work as a shipyard machinist. Following his death, his family, through his estate, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against FMC.

Unfortunately, confusion surrounding the statute of limitations led to the case being dismissed.

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at FMC Corporation

FMC Corporation acquired the bulk of its asbestos liability through the purchase of Chicago Pump Company, Peerless Pump Company, and Northern Pumps during the mid-20th century. Although it would go on to sell all three companies, FMC retains liability for the asbestos products and activities conducted by these companies during its ownership.

Asbestos-contaminated products made by FMC Corporation or its subsidiaries include: 

• Pumps 
• Cranes
• Excavators
• Industrial vehicles
• Other heavy equipment and machinery

All of these products used asbestos components to function, relying on the mineral’s durability and resistance to fire, heat, and chemicals. 

Asbestos components included in FMC Corporation products include:

• Brake linings
• Clutch facings
• Friction discs
• Gaskets (sheet and ring)
• Packing

Occupations At-Risk

In addition to FMC employees who were exposed to asbestos during the manufacturing process, the company also endangered many people across a broad spectrum of industries and professions. 

Those responsible for maintaining asbestos-contaminated equipment or who directly handled asbestos components are now at particularly high risk of asbestos-related diseases. 

High-risk occupations include:

• Boiler repairmen
• Construction workers
• Crane operators
• Electrical engineers
• HVAC workers
• Industrial plant workers
• Insulators
• Maintenance workers
• Mechanics
• Navy personnel
• Oil refinery workers
• Plumbers
• Power plant workers
• Shipyard workers
• Steamfitters

The dangerous health effects of asbestos aren’t limited to those who worked directly with the mineral. Family members and others living with asbestos workers can also be at risk through secondhand, or “take-home,” exposure. 

Secondhand exposure occurs when tiny asbestos fibers cling to a worker’s hair, skin, or clothing and are unknowingly brought into the home, potentially causing serious asbestos-related diseases in loved ones.

Get Help Today 

Asbestos was widely used by manufacturers throughout the 20th century, but that doesn’t excuse companies like FMC Corporation from endangering thousands of workers and consumers.

By the 1930s, the health risks of asbestos were already well known, yet many manufacturers actively concealed this information to protect profits. FMC Corporation is among the companies that must be held accountable for the devastating physical, emotional, and financial toll their products have taken on victims and their families.

If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness due to FMC Corporation’s products or activities, our trusted legal partners at Meirowitz & Wasserberg are here to help you pursue justice and compensation.

With decades of combined experience, their team has helped countless victims navigate the complexities of asbestos litigation and fight for the maximum compensation available based on their unique situation.

Contact us today for a free consultation and get access to the support, resources, and legal guidance you need to move forward with confidence.