In this episode of Asbestos Trusts, we dive into the history of T H Agriculture & Nutrition (THAN), a company with a complex legacy in the asbestos industry. Join us as we explore its origins, its role as a distributor of raw asbestos, and the impact it had on workers' health.
Established in 1917 as Thompson, Munro, and Robins Chemical Company, the company later became known as Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company in 1923. Eventually, it transformed into T H Agriculture & Nutrition (THAN). Initially, THAN focused on producing pesticides and herbicides during the 1940s and '50s, not manufacturing asbestos-containing products.
However, the landscape changed in the 1960s when THAN shifted its primary function to become a distributor of raw asbestos fibers. Partnering with Carey-Canadian Mines, a subsidiary of Celotex Corporation, the company distributed raw asbestos for the next two decades. One of its notable customers was Bondex, a manufacturer of asbestos-containing construction products.
Despite not manufacturing asbestos products directly, THAN's role as a distributor put numerous workers at risk. Employees of companies that ordered asbestos from THAN, including Bondex employees, faced dangers of exposure. Factory and warehouse workers involved in bagging or unbagging the fibers, as well as those responsible for mixing, manipulating, and cleaning up asbestos fibers on construction sites or in plants and refineries, were also at great risk.
As the health consequences of asbestos exposure came to light, T H Agriculture & Nutrition faced financial challenges. On May 28, 2008, the company filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing liabilities ranging from $500 million to $1 billion at the time of filing. In response, the company reorganized and established the T H Agriculture & Nutrition Asbestos Personal Injury Trust in 2009.
The Trust has been tasked with compensating victims of asbestos-related injuries. In 2022 alone, 8,231 claims were filed with the Trust, according to its annual financial report. The report indicates that $16,281,417 was paid out in claims in 2022, contributing to a total payout of over $700 million since the Trust's inception.
The compensation process involves determining the designated payment amount for each asbestos injury. Then, the Trust assigns a payment percentage, and qualifying claimants receive that percentage of the overall value determined by the Trust. As of now, the current payment percentage stands at 15%.
We’ve helped thousands of people receive the compensation they deserve for their asbestos injuries. Let us help you. You can contact asbestos attorney Justinian C. Lane at Asbestos Claims Law via his website at http://www.AsbestosClaims.law.
Email directly at help@asbestosclaims.law.
Or call anytime at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378).
