Kaiser Aluminum was a major manufacturer of aluminum and aluminum products throughout the 20th century. The company provided aluminum products to many large-scale clients, including the United States Navy.
Unfortunately, Kaiser used asbestos in its products and the equipment in its refinery. Employees who handled its products or operated its machinery were exposed to asbestos every day. Many developed mesothelioma and other deadly illnesses due to asbestos exposure. After filing for bankruptcy in 2006, Kaiser established a trust fund to compensate victims of asbestos-related illness caused by exposure to Kaiser products or work facilities.
If you became ill after being exposed to asbestos by Kaiser or its products, it’s important to file a claim for compensation as soon as possible to avoid losing the right to sue.
The trusted attorneys at Gori Law are experienced in helping asbestos victims navigate the trust fund process from beginning to end. We handle the legal heavy lifting so you can prioritize healing.
Navigate this page
- What Is the Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos Trust Fund?
- Kaiser Aluminum’s History With Asbestos
- Who Is Eligible for Compensation?
- How To File a Claim With the Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos Trust Fund
- Payouts and Compensation From the Trust Fund
- Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim
- Why Choose Gori Law for Your Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos Claim?
- Kaiser Aluminum exposed thousands of people to the asbestos it used to manufacture its products.
- Many workers, including shipbuilders, construction workers, and Navy personnel, suffered occupational asbestos exposure caused by Kaiser.
- Kaiser emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2006 and began accepting trust fund claims shortly afterward.
- If you were exposed to asbestos by Kaiser Aluminum, The Gori Law Firm can help you seek compensation by filing a claim with its trust fund.
What Is the Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos Trust Fund?
The Kaiser Aluminum asbestos trust fund was created to compensate victims of asbestos exposure as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan developed after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002. After bankruptcy, Kaiser set aside $1.2 billion to pay out claims from victims of asbestos exposure caused by its products. The fund began accepting claims in December 2006.
Asbestos trust funds are a common tool used in bankruptcy court when companies have a large number of asbestos injury claims against them. These funds set aside a certain amount of the bankrupt company’s assets so asbestos victims are compensated before the money can be depleted by other creditors.
Kaiser Aluminum's History With Asbestos
Kaiser Aluminum was founded in 1946 as an aluminum mine, refinery, and manufacturing facility. It predominantly produced materials for construction projects and military operations. One of its largest clients was the United States Navy, for which Kaiser produced asbestos fireboard used in shipbuilding.
From the 1950s to 1978, Kaiser used asbestos in the manufacture of a wide variety of products. The company’s aluminum refining vessels were also lined with asbestos to protect them from damage caused by high heat exposure. Asbestos was a cheap fireproofing and anticorrosive material compared to other options in the industry. Even though asbestos had been proven harmful in the 1920s and safer alternatives were developed in the 1930s, Kaiser prioritized its bottom line over workers’ safety.
Workers particularly likely to suffer occupational asbestos exposure from Kaiser products included shipbuilders, construction workers, military personnel, and factory workers. Asbestos exposure commonly leads to mesothelioma and other severe asbestos-related illnesses.
Kaiser’s continued use of asbestos endangered its workers and consumers, leading to extensive asbestos exposure among people handling its products and their families. Many family members of Kaiser employees and workers using Kaiser products had no idea they’d been exposed to asbestos until decades later.
Who Is Eligible for Compensation?
If you were exposed to asbestos by Kaiser Aluminum and developed an asbestos-related illness as a result, you may qualify for compensation.
Kaiser’s primary victims of asbestos exposure are employees who worked with or manufactured its products. However, you don’t need to have worked with Kaiser products personally to recover compensation for asbestos-related illnesses.
Some family members and others who lived with employees handling Kaiser materials suffered secondary asbestos exposure from fibers brought home on their loved one’s clothes, skin, and hair. Hugging a family member after work or using a common washing machine for contaminated clothing is enough for secondary exposure.
Whether you’re filing a claim for primary or secondary asbestos exposure, you’ll need extensive medical evidence of your asbestos-related illness to be successful. A diagnosis of mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or a similar asbestos-related disease is required.
Your claim must include evidence connecting your illness to asbestos exposure and, most importantly, all of your diagnostic materials. Our experienced attorneys will work with you to strengthen your asbestos exposure claim before you file.
How To File a Claim With the Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos Trust Fund
The first step in the trust fund claims process is to contact a trusted mesothelioma and asbestos exposure attorney as soon as possible. Working with an attorney significantly improves your chances of a successful claim.
A skilled attorney at Gori Law will handle every step of the claims process for you. This includes:
- Investigating your exposure to determine Kaiser’s liability and assess any other potentially liable parties
- Gathering evidence to prove Kaiser’s responsibility for your exposure
- Collecting medical records to establish your asbestos-related illness diagnosis
- Evaluating your case to make sure filing a trust fund claim is your best option
- Submitting a complete claim on your behalf
- Distributing your funds if your claim is successful
A Kaiser fund trustee will evaluate your claim. You can choose to undergo an individual review, which assigns compensation based on your individual case facts, or an expedited review, which offers a set settlement amount. While expedited review is a significantly faster process, you may stand to receive more money by choosing an individual review.
Our expert attorneys will assess your case to help you determine which review process is right for you. Contact The Gori Law Firm today for a free case evaluation.
Payouts and Compensation From the Trust Fund
Your Kaiser Aluminum asbestos compensation will vary depending on your individual circumstances. While there’s no guaranteed range for an asbestos exposure claim, understanding the current average mesothelioma compensation can help you decide whether pursuing a claim is right for you.
The average payout from all available asbestos trust funds is $41,000. However, major payouts to victims of catastrophic illness and wrongful death skew this number significantly upward. An asbestos exposure attorney can help you assess your claim and estimate its potential financial value.
Several factors go into determining the compensation you may be eligible to receive, with the severity of your disease being the most important. Victims of mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly cancer, typically receive higher compensation than people with less severe lung conditions.
Your compensation may also be influenced by whether you have legal representation. An asbestos exposure attorney will make sure you meet deadlines, include the strongest evidence in your claim, and submit files to all relevant trust funds for your claim. Having a lawyer can have a great impact on your chances of succeeding in your asbestos claim.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Claim
The statute of limitations establishes a time window in which victims are eligible to file asbestos trust fund claims. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses tend to manifest anywhere from 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure, and statutes of limitations usually start on the date of diagnosis.
It’s always best to file a claim as soon as possible after being diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Missing the statutory window to file your claim means permanently losing the right to file. After receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s important to reach out to a reliable attorney for advice.
Statutes of limitations vary depending on the state where the claim is filed and the nature of the claim. A skilled asbestos exposure attorney at Gori Law can help you determine the type of claim to file and how long you have to submit it.
Why Choose Gori Law for Your Kaiser Aluminum Asbestos Claim?
At Gori Law, our entire team works closely with our clients to provide them the personal support and resources they need throughout their cases. Our award-winning attorneys have extensive experience handling asbestos trust fund claims and mesothelioma cases.
For over 15 years, our hardworking legal team has secured billions in successful case results for clients nationwide. If you developed an asbestos-related illness after working for Kaiser Aluminum or using its asbestos products, we can help. Call 618-659-9833 or reach out online today for your free legal consultation.
