Asbestos Exposure at Westvaco in Kentucky
Westvaco (later known as MeadWestvaco and now as WestRock) had two paper mills in Kentucky. Former employees of the Westvaco plants in Russellville and Wickliffe may be entitled to compensation if they developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis due to asbestos exposure at these plants.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, contact us at Satterley and Kelly, PLLC today. We will start with a free consultation and help you get justice for this terrible disease. Keep reading to learn more or explore our website to learn about other asbestos exposure sites in Kentucky.
MeadWestvaco Corporate Headquarters by Ben Schumin
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What Is the MeadWestvaco Corporation?
The MeadWestvaco Corporation was formed in 2002 through a merger of the Mead Corporation and Westvaco. The company manufactured packaging, office products, consumer paper products, and specialty chemicals. Its brands included Carrier Kote, Custom Kote, Printkote, Tango, Digipak, Amaray, Dosepak, and Vision. At its height, the company had 23,000 employees in the United States.
The Mead Corporation was originally founded under the name Ellis, Chaflin & Co. in 1846. The company changed its name several times over the next 150 years as it went through several mergers and acquisitions.
Westvaco had its beginning in 1889 when founder William Luke set up a paper mill with his sons in West Virginia. The mill originally operated under the name of the Piedmont Pulp and Paper Company, but within two years, it was using the name West Virginia Paper. In 1897, it merged with the West Virginia Pulp Company and became the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (WVPP). In 1967, the company initiated its largest-ever project — a $90 million paper mill in Kentucky. In 1969, it changed its name to the Westvaco Corporation.
As noted above, these two companies merged to become MeadWestvaco in 2002. That same year, the company was named as a defendant in 500 asbestos injury cases. In 2008, the company started using MWV as its brand name but maintained MeadWestvaco as its legal name. In 2015, MeadWestvaco merged with RockTenn and is now called WestRock.
Asbestos Exposure Related to MeadWestvaco
Employees of the Mead Corporation, Westvaco, and MeadWestvaco were exposed to asbestos in a few different ways. The company’s milling machinery contained asbestos. For example, dryerfelt often contained asbestos. Additionally, the company’s paper mills contained asbestos-filled construction materials such as insulation and flooring, which were popular during that era.
Mead had an industrial division that made asbestos-containing friction paper for automobile transmissions. However, this paper was not manufactured in the Kentucky plants as they were not owned by the Mead Corporation.
The History of Westvaco in Kentucky
Westvaco operated two paper mills in Kentucky, one in Russellville and another in Wickliffe. The Wickliffe paper mill was originally owned by Westvaco, then by NewPage, and finally by the Verso Corp. Verso permanently idled the facility in 2015, leading to the layoff of 310 employees.
In 2018, Shanying International purchased the facility which runs under the name Phoenix Paper. This company has no current or past connection with MeadWestvaco.
Asbestos Exposure at Paper Mills
Employees of paper mills were exposed to asbestos when they interacted with asbestos-containing machinery and toxic dust. Affected employees include maintenance staff, machine setters, machine operators, assemblers, and fabricators. Additionally, floor managers, inspectors, and quality control staff were also exposed.
Any managerial or administrative staff who went through production areas or who were in areas connected to the production areas by HVAC vents were also likely to be exposed. Multiple studies have found an increased risk for mesothelioma and lung cancer among paper mill employees and particularly among maintenance workers.
Your Rights After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have the right to hold liable the entity that was responsible for your exposure. However, the liable party depends on how the exposure occurred and your relationship with the other party.
As a former employee of Westvaco, you cannot bring an asbestos injury suit against that company. Kentucky’s worker compensation laws prevent you from doing so. However, you may be able to bring a suit forward against the manufacturer of the equipment or parts that were responsible for your exposure.
If you developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease due to secondary exposure related to a Westvaco employee, you can hold the Westvaco company liable for your injuries. In Kentucky, employers have a legal responsibility to keep their employees’ families safe from known risks. But tragically, the company allowed employees to go home with asbestos fibers on their clothes, which exposed their families.
Get Help Today
After a diagnosis, you must focus on your health, but we can help you with the legal aspects of the situation. Based in Kentucky, we have represented many clients who were exposed to asbestos in this state, and we will leverage our knowledge and experience to get the best results possible for you. To get help now, contact us today for a free consultation.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1159297/000115929702000143/nr816.htm
https://www.westkyjournal.com/news.php?viewStory=5561
https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/05/29/paper-mill-reopens-wickliffe-ky/
ttps://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/17/business/company-news-meadwestvaco-named-in-500-asbestos-claims.html