Metalclad Insulation 

Highest-Risk Occupations

Metalclad used asbestos in its products for 40 years.

During this time, they manufactured, installed, and supplied specialty insulation systems to a wide variety of industries including:

• Aerospace
• Shipbuilding
• Construction
• Power generation
• Petrochemical
• Military
• Manufacturing. 

When workers handle and interact with asbestos products, they are at risk for inhaling and ingesting dangerous dust and shed fibers. The company didn’t warn its employees or customers about the potential hazards of the products it sold, endangering thousands of workers in dozens of professions. 

Who is At Highest Risk for Exposure?

Even one instance of asbestos exposure puts people at risk for serious illnesses like mesothelioma, but people with heavy, consistent exposure face the highest risks. 

Factory Workers

In addition to employees at Metalclad’s own facilities, who were exposed to asbestos during the manufacturing process, anyone who worked at a manufacturing site where Metalclad insulation products were installed is at risk.

Dust from asbestos insulation products endangered all workers, not just those in direct contact. 

Insulators

Insulators were directly exposed during the installation or replacement of Metalclad’s many asbestos insulation products.

Insulation products often contained high levels of asbestos, and activities such as fitting, cutting, and removing asbestos could release fibers into the air. Poor ventilation at many worksites increased the already severe risks of airborne asbestos.     

U.S. Navy Veterans

Metalclad not only supplied its own asbestos products to the U.S. Navy, but it also worked as a broker, arranging deliveries of asbestos products made by others for use on Navy vessels and submarines.

Asbestos exposure was so common aboard ships and in other military installations that the veterans account for roughly one-third of all new mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year.

Family Members Exposed Secondhand

Family members may be eligible to file personal injury claims if they experienced secondary exposure at home. Others may be eligible for wrongful death compensation if their loved one has passed away following an illness caused by Metalclad asbestos exposure.

Metaclad Insulation Asbestos Products

Asbestos insulation was the standard for much of the 20th century. Companies used it because it was durable, non-conductive, and resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals. It was also cheap, abundant, and lightweight, making it particularly popular in the aerospace and shipbuilding industries.

Companies like Metalclad valued these benefits so highly that they ignored, and in some cases actively hid, the serious health and environmental risks associated with asbestos. Metalclad used asbestos in its insulation products from 1933 until 1973, when increasing federal regulations began restricting its use. 

Although the company ceased making new asbestos products to comply with federal regulations, it still sold its remaining stock for a profit, even though it knew it would endanger users.      

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Asbestos cloth
• Block insulation
• Insulating cement
• Pipe covering
• Pipe insulation
• Valve insulation pads

Securing Compensation From Metaclad Insulation

Metalclad Insulation’s activities as a manufacturer, installer, and broker of asbestos insulation products created an asbestos exposure footprint that harmed thousands of people.

If you or a loved one worked with Metalclad or with its asbestos-containing products, you may be entitled to legal compensation.

In addition to filing lawsuits, many claimants also qualify for other forms of compensation, such as VA benefits or workers’ compensation. Your options depend on the unique circumstances of your claim.

We can help you determine your eligibility and learn more about the potential value of your claim for free. Contact us today to start the filing process with the support you deserve.

Many asbestos claimants with viable cases against Metalclad are also eligible for compensation from other asbestos companies. Metalclad had relationships with other asbestos manufacturers, such as Pittsburgh Corning, Owens-Corning, and the Plant Rubber & Asbestos Company. Your lawyer can help you identify all the companies responsible for your exposure, ensuring they are held accountable and that you get the maximum compensation you deserve.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

Metalclad Insulation has not filed for bankruptcy and has not established an asbestos trust fund. The company chooses to address the claims against it through the legal system.

People harmed by asbestos exposure and their families have two primary options when filing suit against Metalclad:

• 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.

Unlike criminal lawsuits, in civil lawsuits, the burden of proof is on the claimant, meaning victims and their families must provide evidence and supporting documentation that their illnesses were directly caused by exposure to Metalclad asbestos products.

In many cases, claimants choose to accept an out-of-court settlement to avoid the delays and stress of a trial. 

Key Requirements to File

• Diagnosis: Claimants must have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis) OR proof of a wrongful death from an asbestos-related illness. 
• Proof of exposure: Documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from Metalclad Insulation through employment or use of their products. 
• Statute of limitations: Potential claimants have a limited time to file a claim. Deadlines vary by state, with most averaging just 2 to 3 years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against Metaclad Insulation

Claimants have been naming Metalclad Insulation in asbestos litigation for decades. The company frequently appears as a codefendant, alongside other asbestos manufacturers and suppliers. Its unique history as both an asbestos manufacturer and broker for other asbestos companies has ensured a steady stream of cases that continue to this day.

Companies like Metalclad take legal defense seriously, employing large teams of lawyers that specialize in defending corporate interests against asbestos litigation. Metalclad and its legal team have had some success in getting cases dismissed through summary judgment, particularly when the company acted as a broker rather than a manufacturer.

However, its success rate is far from perfect, and claimants have won substantial settlements and verdicts against it. If you have an asbestos-related disease due to exposure to Metalclad’s products, you should consider securing expert legal assistance to support you when making a claim. Contact us today to get a free case assessment and start the filing process with expert help.

Metaclad Insulation’s Involvement With Asbestos

Ray Kemper founded Metalclad Insulation in California in 1933. The company used asbestos from the very beginning, incorporating it in the insulation products it manufactured, supplied, and installed to increase durability, heat protection, and fireproofing. 

The company made specialty insulation products, including pipe covering, block insulation, insulating cement, and asbestos cloth, which it supplied to customers in shipbuilding, aerospace, power generation, petrochemical processing, manufacturing, construction, and the military. 

In addition to its own products, the company also acted as a broker for other asbestos manufacturers, including Pittsburgh Corning, Owens-Corning, and the Plant Rubber & Asbestos Company.

Metalclad became a major supplier to the U.S. Navy in the 1960’s, with its products and those it brokered used on ships and submarines. Court testimony places Metalclad asbestos products at both the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and the Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

The company stopped manufacturing asbestos insulation in 1973 to comply with new federal regulations. However, these regulations didn’t prevent the company from selling off its remaining stock at a profit, despite knowing its products were dangerous. 

Contact Us For a Free Case Assessment

Like many asbestos manufacturers, Metalclad did not warn employees or end users that its insulation products were hazardous. Its failure to warn vulnerable workers has injured thousands of people. The company has been named in a steady stream of asbestos litigation for decades, and still faces new claims each year. 

If you or a member of your family is among those who have gotten an asbestos-related illness due to Metalclad’s asbestos products or activities, you may be entitled to legal compensation. Working with an experienced asbestos attorney can help you get the support and compensation you and your family deserve.

Our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, has decades of experience helping claimants hold negligent asbestos manufacturers accountable. Their team has secured over $500 million in compensation for victims and their families through aggressive representation and individualized strategies tailored to their clients’ needs and preferences. 

Don’t wait to start your claim. Time is limited to file, but with the right assistance, getting started can be easy. The Mesothelioma fund can help you determine your eligibility and learn more about your case for free.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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