Rutland Fire Clay
The Rutland Fire Clay Company established itself as a leading manufacturer of fireproof hearth products in the late 1800s. Asbestos was widely revered for its fireproof and heat-resistant properties, and Rutland Fire Clay used asbestos in multiple products.
Legally Reviewed By: Case A. Dam
Senior Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- April 19, 2024
Legally Reviewed By: Case A. Dam
Senior Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- April 19, 2024
Founded in 1883 in Rutland, Vermont, Rutland Fire Clay manufactures heat-resistant products that are used to maintain and repair wood or gas-powered stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys.
Unfortunately, the company has a history of using asbestos in its products. Companies that manufacture products that are inherently dangerous are strictly liable for the resulting harm.
What Rutland Fire Clay products contained asbestos?
Rutland Fire Clay manufactures the following products, which likely contained asbestos until the late 1970s:
- Heat-resistant cements and mortars
- Creosote and soot removers
- Heat-resistant silicone sealants
- Stove door gasket
Asbestos has long been regarded as an ideal product for heat-resistant applications because it is virtually fireproof, flexible, and strong. It was also inexpensive to source and available in abundance.
Workers Exposed to Asbestos Through Rutland Fire Clay Products
The manufacture of products containing asbestos exposed workers to significant levels of asbestos over an extended period. This places them in a high-risk category for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases later in life. Workers exposed to Rutland Fire Clay asbestos include the following:
- Workers who install or remove fireplaces, stoves, and their components
- Rutland Fire Clay factory workers
- Factory workers for companies that purchase Rutland Fire Clay products
- Stove, fireplace, and chimney maintenance and repair workers
- Bricklayers
- Masons
- Construction workers
- Boiler workers
- Homeowners who perform their own repairs
The Rutland Fire Clay Company Asbestos Trust
The Rutland Fire Clay Company faced more than 50,000 asbestos-related lawsuits by 1999. The company responded by filing for bankruptcy on October 13, 1999. It emerged from bankruptcy on November 17, 2000, and established the Rutland Fire Clay Company Asbestos Trust on December 17, 2000, with $8 million.
The purpose of the trust fund was to compensate present and future claimants who had been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses subsequent to exposure through Rutland Fire Clay asbestos products. Unfortunately, the fund was exhausted in January 2011 and is currently inactive.
What are my options for compensation if I was exposed to asbestos because of The Rutland Fire Clay Company?
Obtaining compensation for exposure to Rutland Fire Clay asbestos is complex because the bankruptcy protects the company from further asbestos liability, while the exhaustion of the trust fund precludes the filing of a trust fund claim. However, you may have additional avenues to obtain compensation.
Workers’ Compensation
If you were exposed to Rutland Fire Clay Company asbestos during the course of your employment while working for another employer, you may qualify for a workers’ compensation claim, which provides free medical care and monthly disability benefits.
Claims Against Additional Liable Parties
In product liability cases, the manufacturer is not the only party responsible for exposure to toxic substances. A distributor, retailer, or employer may also be liable. If you or your employer purchased Rutland Fire Clay products through a distributor or retailer, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against that party.
Many of The Lanier Law Firm’s clients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses were exposed to asbestos through more than one source. Our mesothelioma attorneys have access to our extensive asbestos product library.
We will spend substantial time with you reviewing this database to see if you recognize any of these products. Our clients are often surprised by the number of everyday products that contain asbestos. By identifying additional sources of exposure, you gain eligibility for claims against other companies.
If these companies have declared bankruptcy, you may have access to a trust fund claim. If not, you may have grounds to file a civil lawsuit.
How can The Lanier Law Firm help me with my asbestos exposure case against Rutland Fire Clay?
Our attorneys can help you explore all of your options for obtaining compensation for the harm that has been caused by the careless, and at times intentional, conduct of asbestos companies, who place profits above the lives of their workers and customers.
With more than 25 years of experience in asbestos litigation, you can count on The Lanier Law Firm to provide skilled, vigorous advocacy to ensure you receive the highest level of compensation available for your type of case.
Every jurisdiction has a statute of limitations that imposes strict deadlines on case filing. Our attorneys will need as much time as possible to review and build your case before filing. Contact us today to talk to a mesothelioma lawyer.
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