A.P. Green Industries Asbestos Trust

A.P. Green Industries manufactured a wide variety of asbestos-containing refractory products between the 1940s and the 1970s. Some of its products, such as firebrick, cement, insulation, and adhesives, contained up to 18% asbestos. 

A.P. Green Industries’ products and business activities put employees, their families, and end users like construction workers, shipbuilders, military personnel, and boilermakers, at risk of exposure to the toxic mineral. 

Asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other serious illnesses. If you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation from the APG Asbestos Trust. Complete the form below to determine your eligibility. 

A.P. Green Industries & Asbestos Exposure

A.P. Green Industries was founded in 1910 in Mexico, Missouri, and was originally known for manufacturing a variety of refractory products made to withstand up to 1,000-degree environments.

Its products were commonly found in steel mills, cotton mills, military installations, and more.

From the 1940s until the 1970s, asbestos was added to the company’s firebrick products to ensure they were heat- and fire-resistant.

Despite the known dangers of asbestos, APG Industries used the dangerous mineral in its products through 1973. Many APG refractory products remain in aging machinery today.

Two asbestos trust funds were formed to handle APG asbestos claims: U.S. Gypsum (USG) Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust and APG Industries Asbestos Trust. 

*The A.P. Green (APG) Industries trust has $901 million aside to settle asbestos claims and identified more than 9,000 sites nationwide where APG products were used or sold.

Asbestos Lawsuits Against A.P. Green Industries

As with many negligent asbestos manufacturers, A.P. Green filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after facing overwhelming asbestos litigation. By 2002, it was named in roughly 235,000 asbestos-related claims and lawsuits, which cost the company more than $490 million to resolve. 

Many of these claims involved workers exposed to asbestos-contaminated refractory products at manufacturing plants and other sites where these products were made or used. Although the company often prefers to settle out of court for undisclosed sums, several claimants have received verdicts in their favor.

Namon Joshua Jr.

Namon Joshua Jr. died of lung cancer, partially caused by asbestos exposure during his work at A.P. Green’s Waterford plant locations. His surviving spouse and adult children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against A.P. Green and several other companies.

The courts ruled in favor of the plaintiff for a total of $6 million, although the full award was likely higher as several defendants chose to settle out of court. 

Howard Burns

Howard Burns developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure during his employment as a construction worker during the summer months from 1951 to 1986. Mr. Burns and his wife filed suit against A.P. Green Industries and multiple other defendants responsible for his exposure. 

Specific details regarding the settlement of this case were kept private by the parties involved.

Muti-Victim Lawsuit

One of the most high-profile asbestos lawsuits involving A.P. Green Industries, along with other asbestos companies like Harbison-Walker Refractories and Armstrong Contracting and Supply, resulted in a $40 million settlement paid to five victims in 2001.

Associated Companies 

A.P. Green Industries was involved in several mergers and acquisitions during its run.

After the company’s heightened success throughout both World Wars and the growing demand for fireproof and heat-resistant bricks, many companies became involved in the operations of AP Green.

One of the most notable business transactions was the U.S. Gypsum Company’s acquisition of A.P. Green Industries in 1967.

Companies Associated With APG:

• U.S. Gypsum Company
• Harbison-Walker Refractories
• Armstrong Contracting and Supply
• Kaiser Refractories
• Anchor Refractories
• North American Refractories

High-Risk Jobs Associated With APG

High-risk jobs associated with A.P. Green Industries involved significant asbestos exposure, as the company extensively used asbestos in its refractory products.

Given its nationwide reach, numerous occupations faced elevated risks of asbestos exposure from APG Industries’ products.

Jobs at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Workers who installed, maintained, or repaired A.P. Green’s asbestos-containing materials were at an elevated risk of developing a disease related to this exposure.

Some of these high-risk jobs include:

• Boilermakers
• Cotton mill workers
• Construction workers
• Kiln operators
• Steel mill workers
• Military personnel
• Shipyard workers

Plant Workers & Increased Asbestos Exposure

A.P. Green Industries plant workers faced significant health risks due to asbestos exposure, more so than many other occupations. 

Asbestos was widely used in A.P. Green Industries’ manufacturing processes, putting plant workers at significant risk.

Additionally, workers were exposed to other asbestos-containing products from external sources within the plant, further heightening their exposure and health risks.

Several studies highlight the severe impact of asbestos exposure on A.P. Green plant workers. A study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that workers in the asbestos industry, including A.P.

Green Industries plant workers, had elevated rates of lung cancer and mesothelioma compared to the general population. 

Asbestos Products Used at A.P. Green Industries

APG Industries factory workers used clay and asbestos to create fire-resistant bricks that were used in high-heat areas. Of the 1,200 products the company manufactured, 22 contained asbestos. 

Plant workers, their family members, and those who lived in close proximity to the plants were at a high risk of asbestos exposure due to these products.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products Used at APG Include:

• SK-7 Cement (produced from 1953 to 1972 with 2.3% asbestos)
• Castable Block Mix (produced from 1950 to 1972 with 7.8% asbestos)
• Kast-O-Lite Gunning Refractory (produced 1956 to 1972 with 1% asbestos)
• Green PC (produced through the early 1970s with 1% asbestos)
• Insulation Adhesive (produced from 1947 to 1972 with 15.5% asbestos)
• Insulation Coating (produced from 1948 to 1971 with 6.5% to 18% asbestos)
• Insulating Cement (produced from 1948 to 1971 with 3.5% to 9% asbestos)

Other APG Industries Asbestos-Containing Products:

• Mizzou GR Gunning Refractory
• Greencast
• Dropsy Fry
• Therm-O-Flake Block Insulation
• Therm-O-Flake Flake Coating
• Loose Wool Insulation
• Steelplant Castable

The Formation of the APG Asbestos Trust

After A.P. Green Industries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002, they were required to create a trust fund to handle all outstanding claims for those affected by asbestos-related diseases due to exposure to the company’s products. 

APG Industries operated as an independent company until USG acquired it in 1967. The USG trust was created in 2006, partially as a result of APG asbestos-related claims. The USG trust pays APG claims from injuries that happened before January 2, 1968.

In 2002, APG Industries filed for bankruptcy due to overwhelming asbestos litigation. The trust began accepting claims on December 2, 2013. The deadline for filing an asbestos claim for a diagnosis before 2002 was September 6, 2017.

USG Trust Claim Payments 

USG opened its trust with $4 billion to pay USG and APG claims.

USG and APG Industries identified seven disease levels that may be eligible for compensation, and payment amounts vary depending on the disease level. 

USG/APG claimants can choose from two claim options: an expedited review or an individual review.

USG Expedited Review

An expedited review claim is best for claimants seeking to receive compensation from the trust fund as quickly as possible to cover costs such as treatment, living, and funeral expenses.

The APG trust’s expedited review settlement amounts are predetermined based on a schedule of values:

Disease	Scheduled Value
Mesothelioma (Level VII)	$130,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VI)	$47,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Level V)	None
Other Cancer (Level IV)	$22,000
Severe Asbestosis (Level III)	$22,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$8,300
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I)	$2,750

USG Individual Review

The USG individual review (IR) process can take several months to settle a claim and is a slower process than an expedited review. However, an individual review can provide a larger settlement amount.

USG individual review settlement amounts can vary depending on your specific circumstances but are based on the schedule of values listed below:

Disease	Average Value	Maximum Value
Mesothelioma (Level VII)	$225,000	$450,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$55,000	$100,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI)	$15,000	$35,000
Other Cancer (Level V)	$15,000	$35,000
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)	$35,000	$50,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III)	None	None
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	None	None

APG Industries Trust Claim Payments 

The APG Industries Asbestos Trust was created with $901 million and began accepting claims in December 2013.

Claimants diagnosed before 2002 were required to file a claim before September 2017. Claimants diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease after 2002 must file a claim within three years of a diagnosis.

Like the USG trust, the APG asbestos trust fund offers claimants two filing options to choose from: expedited and individual reviews.

APG Industries Expedited Review

An expedited review claim is best for claimants looking to get compensation from the trust fund as quickly as possible to cover things like treatment costs, living expenses, funeral expenses, and more.

APG asbestos trust expedited review settlement amounts are predetermined based on a schedule of values:

Disease	Scheduled Value
Mesothelioma (Level VII)	$130,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VI)	$47,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Level V)	None
Other Cancer (Level IV)	$22,000
Severe Asbestosis (Level III)	$22,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$8,300
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I)	$2.750

APG Industries Individual Review

APG Industries’ individual review process offers options to those not eligible for expedited review. Reasons for choosing individual review include rejection of an expedited review claim, immediate financial hardship, Canadian (foreign) claims, and secondary asbestos exposure.  

Claims submitted for individual review may pay more or less than the scheduled value. The final decision can take several months and depends on each claimant’s unique circumstances. The value is capped at five times the scheduled value for each disease level. 

Lung Cancer 2 (Level V) and all Extraordinary claims must undergo individual review.

Disease	Maximum Value
Mesothelioma (Level VII)	$650,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VI)	$235,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Level V)	$75,000
Other Cancer (Level IV)	$110,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$41,500
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I)	$13,750

Eligibility Requirements for the APG Asbestos Trust

For victims to file an APG asbestos trust fund claim, several requirements need to be met and proven to receive compensation. 

There are two categories of eligibility requirements: medical and exposure. The specific requirements for each category can vary depending on the disease level.

Medical Requirements

All diagnoses of any disease level require a physician’s statement of diagnosis that at least 10 years have elapsed since first exposure to asbestos or a history of the claimant’s exposure to prove a 20-year latency period.

• Disease levels I and II: Provide evidence of bilateral asbestos-related nonmalignant disease 
• Disease levels II and III: Must include pulmonary function testing
  • Disease level III only: An ILO reading of 2/1 or greater or pathological evidence of asbestosis
• Disease levels IV-VII: Provide evidence of asbestos-related malignancy 

Exposure Requirements

To qualify for any disease level, claimants must prove exposure to asbestos products or activities for which an APG entity is legally responsible.

Significant Occupational Exposure:

• At least 5 years of employment, including 2 years before December 31, 1982
• Work must involve:
  • Regular handling of raw asbestos fibers
  • Making or repairing asbestos-containing products with regular exposure to asbestos
  • Being near workers who handled or worked with asbestos regularly

APG Exposure:

• Credible exposure to asbestos from APG or its predecessors before December 31, 1982
• Evidentiary support includes affidavits, sworn statements, invoices, employment records, or other reliable documents

Expedited Review Exposure Requirements:

• All disease levels
  • Show APG Exposure before December 31, 1982
• Asbestos/pleural disease level I: 6 months of APG exposure before December 31, 1982, and 5 years of total asbestos exposure
• Disease levels II, III, IV, VI: 6 months of APG exposure before December 31, 1982, and significant occupational exposure

Those who do not meet these requirements must apply for individual review. The APG Asbestos Trust may require additional evidence or specific information to process claims.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against A.P. Green Industries

Compensation from the A.P. Green Industries asbestos trust is limited, so it’s important to take action as soon as possible before funds run out.

Partnering with a trusted legal team can help take the stress out of the claim filing process. Our team may be able to handle the heavy lifting of the legal process so you can focus on your health and spending time with your family.

Eligible claimants can rest assured knowing we will seek justice and the maximum amount of compensation available from A.P. Green Industries. 

Loved Ones & Family Members 

We understand the emotional and financial challenges that families face when their loved one is a victim of an asbestos-related disease.

There may be options available for your family to secure the compensation and justice you deserve. Loved ones can file a claim with the A.P. Green Industries Trust to cover costs associated with treatment, lost wages, or even funeral expenses.

We are here to help with every step in the filing process. Reach out to us today to get started.