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International Paper Company & Asbestos Exposure

Fact checked and legally reviewed by Samuel Meirowitz • Contributor & Legal Advisor

International Paper Company exposed thousands of employees to asbestos through its paper mill and power plant facilities.

Individuals who have developed asbestos-related illnesses due to exposure at International Paper facilities may be eligible for financial compensation.

Find Out If You Qualify for Compensation

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Key Information

  • Compensation: If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness due to exposure to asbestos at International Paper Company, you may qualify for various types of compensation.
  • Products: International Paper did not manufacture asbestos products but used asbestos in the construction of its facilities, equipment, and even protective clothing, putting employees at risk.
  • Occupations: Paper mill workers, power plant employees, construction workers, and insulators face a high risk of asbestos exposure.
  • Get Help Today: We can help you determine your eligibility for compensation from the International Paper Company. Reach out today.

International Paper Company & History of Asbestos Usage

The International Paper Company — later renamed International Paper — is one of the world’s largest pulp and paper companies. It was formed in January 1898 by merging 17 pulp and paper companies in the northeastern United States.

International Paper grew rapidly. By 1900, it produced almost 60% of the newsprint in the United States. The company also diversified, establishing multiple power plants. Although these plants were shut down in 1935 due to a government ruling that prohibited the operation of public utilities by private companies, they were lucrative at the time.

Due to the nature of its businesses, International Paper prominently used asbestos in its activities. Paper is a highly flammable material that causes fires to spread quickly. Power plants also struggle with fire risk and require thorough insulation. 

To help mitigate this risk, International Paper constructed its mills, factories, and power plants using asbestos-containing products like insulation, roofing, walls, flooring, and machinery.

Asbestos is a family of six minerals with a similar structure. All varieties of asbestos separate into thin, strong strands. 

Asbestos is valued in manufacturing for its durability and heat, fire, and chemical resistance. The International Paper Company used asbestos primarily as an insulator and flame retardant in its factories and power plants.

Because these job sites have a high flammability risk, International Paper viewed asbestos as a cheap, effective solution to its safety needs.

Unfortunately, asbestos is extremely hazardous. When mined, handled, or damaged, asbestos particles become airborne and can be inhaled or swallowed. Once asbestos fibers enter the body, they do not break down but remain in place, causing irritation, scarring, inflammation, and DNA changes that can lead to serious illness.

Asbestos-related diseases include:

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

Check Your Compensation Eligibility Now

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Were you or your family member diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness?

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Based on your answers, it seems like you may have a potential claim. How can we get in touch to confirm your eligibility?

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International Paper Company & Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer in the thin lining surrounding various organs called the mesothelium. It can appear in the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testes, although the last two are vanishingly rare.

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, and there is a large body of research spanning decades linking asbestos exposure to the development of mesothelioma and other cancers.

Studies linking mesothelioma to paper mill asbestos exposure:

2001

A 2001 study of paper mill workers in the Canadian province of British Columbia found that there was an increased risk to these workers of developing various types of cancers, including mesothelioma.

2013

A 2013 study of Swedish paper and pulp mill workers reviewed workers’ experiences over six decades. It found that “risks of pleural mesothelioma were increased among males employed in sulphate pulping.”

2022

Research by the European Commission published in 2022 estimated that 70,000 people across the European Union had died in 2019 alone as a result of past exposure to asbestos in their line of work, including those working in paper mills and factories.

Although not all International Paper Company employees handled asbestos directly, there is still a strong link between the development of mesothelioma and work in asbestos-contaminated environments. There is no safe amount of asbestos exposure.

Financial Compensation Due to Asbestos Exposure

The International Paper Company has not established an asbestos trust fund. Instead, it handles all claims through the legal system.

Victims exposed to the International Paper Company’s asbestos products or activities can file one of two types of lawsuits to pursue compensation:

  • Personal injury lawsuit: Filed by living victims of asbestos exposure seeking compensation for losses suffered due to their illness. 
  • Wrongful death lawsuit: In cases where the victim of exposure has already passed away, family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Victims of asbestos exposure may also be eligible for additional compensation like benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or workers’ compensation. An experienced asbestos attorney can help you understand all of your potential compensation options.

Asbestos Lawsuits Against the International Paper Company

Nellie T.

The widow of a paper mill employee, Nellie T., filed a lawsuit on behalf of her husband, Alton, who died of mesothelioma in 2014. Alton worked as a maintenance mechanic from 1953 until 1997, frequently bringing him into contact with asbestos-contaminated construction and mechanical materials.

John C. Tutt

John Tutt filed a suit against International Paper after his request for workers’ compensation benefits was denied. Tutt worked for the International Paper Company from 1942 until 1978. After his death in 1983, his wife continued the claim.

Alton Hogue

Alton Hogue developed malignant pleural mesothelioma after working for International Paper Company from 1955 until 1998. Hogue filed suit with his wife and several other employees. While the court initially found in their favor, a series of appeals and disputed judgments followed the initial ruling.

Roy Jenkins

Roy Jenkins was a construction worker assigned to work at the International Paper Company plant in Camden. Jenkins was frequently assigned to load transite — which contained high quantities of asbestos — onto a truck.

Although his initial claim ended in a summary judgment in favor of International Paper, Jenkins and his wife later sought to overturn the verdict.

Madge Benefield

Madge Benefield filed suit against International Paper, alleging that its manufacturing plant in Prattville, Alabama, was spewing harmful chemicals into the surrounding area, causing significant damage to the health and property of all residents in a two-mile radius of the facility.

Her request to the court to file a class action lawsuit with other similarly harmed residents was denied.

Products Containing Asbestos From the International Paper Company 

Although the International Paper Company did not manufacture asbestos, its facilities were constructed using a high proportion of asbestos materials.

Asbestos-containing materials found at International Paper job sites include:

  • Corrugated asbestos cement roof tiles
  • Corrugated asbestos cement siding
  • Flooring
  • Insulation
  • Protective clothing

International Paper assumed additional asbestos liability in 2000 when it purchased Champion International. Although Champion did not manufacture asbestos goods, it did distribute asbestos countertops under the brand name Micarta.

Check Your Compensation Eligibility Now

Step 1 of 3

Were you or your family member diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness?

Step 3 of 3

Based on your answers, it seems like you may have a potential claim. How can we get in touch to confirm your eligibility?

Your information will be kept private

Occupations at Risk From International Paper Products

In addition to the building materials used to construct International Paper’s paper mills and power plants, manufacturing machinery like boilers and furnaces and heat-resistant and flame-retardant clothing issued to power plant workers also contained asbestos. 

Due to its size and position as a leading provider of paper and pulp products, International Paper has employed thousands of people over the past century.

Workers in the following occupations were at risk of asbestos exposure as a result:

  • Paper mill employees
  • Maintenance workers
  • Insulation workers
  • Construction workers
  • Roofers
  • Pipefitters
  • Mechanics
  • Demolition workers

Risk Levels for Employees

Many occupations associated with International Paper are listed as high risk for asbestos exposure. For example, construction workers and insulators were at significantly higher risk because they would have directly handled asbestos while constructing International Paper’s mills.

Other workers, such as roofers and plumbers, are deemed as medium-risk.

Paper Mill Workers

Due to the materials they contain, paper mills are at significant risk of fires spreading. When paper sets alight, it burns quickly, and the flames can spread rapidly. 

The International Paper Company used significant amounts of asbestos in the construction of their facilities, contributing to the increased risk of workers developing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma.

Risk Level: Significant

Dangers of Secondhand Exposure

The risk wasn’t limited to employees. Family members living with International Paper employees also faced the risk of secondary asbestos exposure.

Asbestos fibers on employee clothing could transfer to household items and furniture. When these contaminated items were moved or cleaned, the fibers could become airborne, further spreading the contamination.

Get Help Today 

Companies like International Paper continued using asbestos as a cheap solution to industrial problems long after its danger became known. In the subsequent decades, these companies have dedicated significant financial resources to fighting their victims’ claims in court.

Those with asbestos-related illnesses deal with significant financial burdens in the wake of diagnosis. Many victims have no choice but to seek compensation from companies like International Paper through lawsuits.

The team of expert asbestos attorneys at Meirowitz & Wasserberg is dedicated to helping victims of asbestos exposure get the justice and compensation they need to recover. We have the experience and the resources to help you fight against major companies like International Paper. 

If you’ve been harmed and are ready to explore your options, reach out today for a free consultation.

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Written & Legally Reviewed By

Samuel Meirowitz

Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Samuel Meirowitz is a member of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.” Mr. Meirowitz was named a “Rising Star” in 2013 & 2014 by Super Lawyers and then a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. In 2013, Mr. Meirowitz obtained what is believed to be the first multi-million-dollar asbestos verdict seen in more than two decades in a New York federal court. In that highly contentious matter, Mr. Meirowitz was able to convince the jury to hold a boiler manufacturer responsible for 60 percent of the $3.8 million awarded, despite the defendant’s attempt to escape all blame by pointing fingers at the plaintiff’s employer and the U.S. Navy (in which the plaintiff admirably served from 1966-70 during the Vietnam conflict). This verdict was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

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