Manville Asbestos
Manville asbestos refers to the extensive industrial product line, manufacturing empire, and landmark corporate litigation associated with the Johns-Manville Corporation. As the world's largest producer of asbestos products for much of the twentieth century, Johns-Manville's historic 1982 Chapter 11 bankruptcy established the modern model for asbestos settlement trust funds, paving the way for billions in compensation.
Corporate History and Worldwide Asbestos Dominance
Formed in 1901 through the merger of the H.W. Johns Manufacturing Company and the Manville Covering Company, Johns-Manville grew into the titan of the global asbestos industry. The company operated the massive Jeffrey Mine in Asbestos, Quebec—the largest open-pit chrysotile asbestos mine in the world—and maintained enormous manufacturing plants in Manville, New Jersey, and Waukegan, Illinois.
Johns-Manville supplied virtually every sector of the industrial economy with asbestos building materials, thermal insulation, pipe lagging, acoustic ceiling panels, and transite cement products. At its peak, the company manufactured over two-thirds of all commercial asbestos thermal products sold in North America.
| Johns-Manville Brand Name | Product Category | Common Application Site | Typical Asbestos Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermo-12 High-Temp Pipe Wrap | Hydrous calcium silicate insulation | Power stations, refineries, industrial boilers | 10% to 25% Chrysotile / Amosite |
| Transite Cement Boards & Pipes | Portland cement & asbestos composite | Municipal water mains, electrical ducts, wall panels | 15% to 50% Chrysotile / Crocidolite |
| Colorbestos Siding Shingles | Exterior cementitious residential siding | Post-war residential home exteriors | 20% to 40% Chrysotile |
| Asbestocel Corrugated Pipe Wrap | Cellular corrugated paper insulation | Residential steam and hot water heating pipes | 30% to 70% Chrysotile |
The 1982 Bankruptcy and Creation of the Manville Trust
By the late 1970s, internal company memorandums surfaced during legal discovery revealing that Johns-Manville executives had known about the lethal health risks of asbestos since the 1930s but intentionally concealed the information from workers and customers. Facing tens of thousands of personal injury lawsuits, Johns-Manville filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 1982.
In 1988, the bankruptcy court approved the company reorganization plan, creating the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust under Section 524(g) of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The trust became the historic blueprint for all subsequent asbestos bankruptcy trusts, holding company equity and insurance proceeds to pay present and future disease claims equitably.
| Scheduled Disease Level | Diagnostic Category | Scheduled Base Value | Key Medical Proof Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level VIII | Malignant Mesothelioma | Highest Scheduled Base Tier | Pathology report confirming primary pleural or peritoneal malignancy |
| Level VII | Lung Cancer 1 (with asbestosis) | High Scheduled Base Tier | Pathology proving carcinoma plus bilateral interstitial fibrosis |
| Level VI | Lung Cancer 2 (without asbestosis) | Moderate Scheduled Base Tier | Pathology proving carcinoma plus substantial Johns-Manville exposure |
| Level IV | Severe Asbestosis | Intermediate Scheduled Tier | Spirometry FVC < 65% and bilateral interstitial markings on X-ray |
To date, the Manville Trust has paid out over five billion dollars to hundreds of thousands of injured workers and their surviving families, operating under a periodically audited Payment Percentage to preserve solvency for future victims.
How to File a Claim with the Manville Asbestos Trust
Step-by-step guidance for patients and families filing an asbestos injury claim with the Manville Trust.
Compile Certified Medical Pathology Records
Gather certified pathology reports, biopsy slide interpretations, and imaging studies confirming your asbestos-related diagnosis.
Document Exposure to Johns-Manville Products
Assemble employment records, union logs, and witness statements proving you worked with or near Johns-Manville insulation products.
Select Review Pathway (Expedited vs Individual)
Choose between Expedited Review for faster fixed payouts or Individual Review if seeking custom evaluation for extraordinary damages.
Submit Claim Through Electronic Trust Portal
File the completed claim package and supporting documentation through the Manville Trust designated online claims facility.
Execute Liability Release and Receive Payment
Upon claim approval, sign the formal liability release form to authorize disbursement based on the current trust payment percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions (7 Questions Answered)
Q1: What is Johns-Manville famous for?
Johns-Manville was the world's largest manufacturer of asbestos products, including thermal insulation, pipe wrap, shingles, and transite boards.
Q2: When did Johns-Manville file for bankruptcy?
Johns-Manville filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 1982 due to overwhelming liability from thousands of asbestos personal injury lawsuits.
Q3: What is the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust?
Established in 1988, it was the first asbestos bankruptcy trust fund created to compensate victims of asbestos disease from Johns-Manville products.
Q4: Does Johns-Manville still make asbestos products today?
No, the reorganized Johns-Manville company completely ceased manufacturing asbestos products and today produces fiberglass and commercial roofing.
Q5: How much money has the Manville Trust paid out?
The Manville Trust has paid out over five billion dollars in compensation to hundreds of thousands of injured claimants since its inception.
Q6: Why does the trust pay a payment percentage instead of full value?
Payment percentages ensure that trust funds do not deplete quickly, preserving capital so future claimants diagnosed decades later receive compensation.
Q7: Can surviving family members file a claim with the Manville Trust?
Yes, surviving spouses or estate representatives can file wrongful death claims with appropriate death certificates and estate documentation.
Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways
The history of Manville asbestos is a cautionary tale of corporate malfeasance and a triumph of modern toxic tort restructuring. The products manufactured by Johns-Manville affected generations of industrial workers and military service members. Today, the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust remains an active source of financial restitution for newly diagnosed victims, providing crucial resources for specialized medical care.