Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit [2024 Update]

Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit Overview

The use of asbestos-containing materials and equipment at Goodyear facilities around the globe until the 1990s has led to over 62,000 pending lawsuits. According to the litigation, tens of thousands of workers have suffered long-term health conditions as a result of Goodyear’s historical use of asbestos in products. Allegations include that the company failed to adequately warn or protect employees from the dangers of asbestos. 

It is believed that Goodyear manufactured and sold asbestos-containing products throughout the 20th century. While the company stopped using asbestos in 1984, it continued to install asbestos-containing brake linings for nearly another decade. Despite a large number of workers being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions, the company never filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy or established an asbestos trust fund.

There are currently lawsuits pending against Goodyear throughout the United States, including in Ohio, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. Workers may have been exposed through the handling of asbestos-containing materials and are strongly encouraged to contact King Law to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit – Latest 2024 Update

March 2024: An estimated 62,000 lawsuits are pending against Goodyear, alleging the company did not warn or protect workers from the dangers of asbestos.

October 2023: A New York judge denied Goodyear’s motion to dismiss in a cancer lawsuit related to asbestos exposure.

April 2023: Goodyear among dozens of companies named in $100 million asbestos lawsuit.

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About the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

In 1898, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in Akron, Ohio, by Frank Seiberling and his brother. It is named for Charles Goodyear, who discovered the rubber vulcanization process nearly 60 years earlier. 

Over the next 125 years, the company would become synonymous with tires, manufacturing them for a wide variety of vehicles, including bicycles, automobiles, and motorcycles. Goodyear would eventually become the sole tire supplier for NASCAR and the most successful tire supplier in Formula One history.

It is believed that the tire company sold asbestos-containing products throughout the 20th century. Products that may have contained asbestos included adhesives, floor tiles, gaskets, and brakes. By the early 1980s, the company had ceased manufacturing asbestos-containing products but continued installing them until the 1990s.

Goodyear Headquarters in Akron, OH

GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co
200 Innovation Way Akron, Ohio 44316-0001

List of Goodyear Manufacturing Facilities in America

• Akron, Ohio: Central hub for Goodyear with a range of operations including global headquarters, innovation, and tire testing.
• Kingman, Arizona: Specializes in aircraft tire retreading.
• Texarkana, Arkansas: Focus on consumer tires.
• San Francisco, California: Houses the innovation lab.
• Pompano Beach, Florida: Airship operations base.
• Stockbridge, Georgia: Hosts aircraft tire retreading.
• Social Circle, Georgia: Tread rubber production.
• Topeka, Kansas: Produces commercial and OTR tires.
• Clarksdale, Mississippi: Engaged in making bladders, mixed stock, and compounding.
• Tupelo, Mississippi: Focus on consumer tires.
• Niagara Falls, New York: Chemical production site.
• Fayetteville, North Carolina: Focus on consumer tires.
• Statesville, North Carolina: Manufacturing base for tire molds.
• Findlay, Ohio: Focus on consumer tires and tire mold manufacturing.
• Hebron, Ohio: Development center.
• Lawton, Oklahoma: Focus on consumer tires.
• Bayport, Texas: Chemical production site.
• Beaumont, Texas: Synthetic rubber producer.
• Houston, Texas: Synthetic rubber producer.
• San Angelo, Texas: Tire proving grounds.
• Danville, Virginia: Aircraft and commercial tires.

Asbestos Exposure at Goodyear Facilities

Because of Goodyear’s widespread use of asbestos-containing materials and equipment, it is believed that tens of thousands of current and former employees may have been exposed to asbestos. Even short-term exposure to the cancer-causing substance can be dangerous.

Asbestos may have been used in nearly every type of facility, including those that manufactured chemicals such as Nailax (Wing-Stay 100) and Kagarax A. Asbestos-containing gaskets and packing materials were often used in pumps and valves, increasing the risk to employees.

Federal law now limits the amount of asbestos that can be found in new products to no more than 1%; however, it is asserted that Goodyear knew of the risks and continued to use asbestos-containing products for decades. Today, there are a number of alternatives available that can make rubber production safer for humans and the environment.

Asbestos Material and Equipment in Goodyear Facilities

Research indicates asbestos-containing materials and equipment at Goodyear for decades. Asbestos was commonly used because of its flexibility, strength, and resistance to heat, flame, and corrosion. Unfortunately, when asbestos fibers are disturbed they can present a danger to humans. Asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma, an aggressive, incurable form of cancer.

Asbestos-Containing Materials and Equipment in Goodyear Facilities:

• Antioxidants and chemicals like Nailax (Wing-Stay 100) for preventing synthetic rubber breakdown.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• Kagarax A, a rubber accelerator.
• Pipes, pumps, and valves for steam distribution.
• Asbestos gaskets and packing materials in pumps and valves.
• Rubberized gaskets.
• Burn shields.
• Adhesive.
• Brake linings.
• Caliper-style aircraft brakes.
• Cranite.
• Durabla.
• Engine mounts.
• Floor tiles.
• Furnace door hose.
• Goodyearite gasket sheet packing.
• Industrial brake linings.
• Steam hose.
• Bricks, drywall, and heating and water pipes in production sites.
• Toxic gaskets used for sealing pipes, pumps, and equipment.
• Talc used in molding processes.

Goodyear Manufactured Products Containing Asbestos

In addition to allegations that the tire and rubber company used materials and equipment that contained asbestos, Goodyear also manufactured asbestos products from the 1930s until 1984. While the company ceased production of asbestos-containing products in 1984, it is believed that they continued to install the products until the 1990s.

Goodyear products which may have contained asbestos:

• Goodyear overview (1930s-1984): For decades, Goodyear produced asbestos-containing products, including asbestos burn shields, adhesive, brake linings, caliper-style aircraft brakes, Cranite, Durabla, engine mounts, floor tiles, furnace door hose, Goodyearite gasket sheet packing, industrial brake linings, and steam hose.
• Goodyear Canada, Inc. (1969-1972): Goodyear Canada produced or sold Cranite, Durabla, and Goodyearite asbestos gasket sheet packing.
• Goodyear Aerospace Corporation (1974-1984): Goodyear Aerospace manufactured caliper-style aircraft brakes and industrial brake linings containing asbestos.

Goodyear Employees at Risk of Asbestos Exposure

It is well-established that Goodyear employees likely had a significant risk of asbestos exposure while working for the company. Nearly all occupations within the company were potentially exposed to the dangerous substance.

Goodyear occupations that may be at increased risk of asbestos exposure:

• Aircraft and auto mechanics
• Assembly line workers
• Boilermakers
• Carpenters 
• Factory and construction workers
• Flooring installers
• General contractors and laborers
• HVAC workers
• Machinists
• Maintenance crews
• Military veterans
• Millwrights
• Pipefitters and plumbers
• Warehouse part pickers

It is not only Goodyear workers that may be at risk of developing asbestos-related conditions. Family members may have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on their clothing and personal items.

Berkshire Hathaway Sues Goodyear Due to Asbestos Lawsuit Claims

In 2017, an insurance unit of Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffet’s company) filed a lawsuit against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., alleging that the tire company failed to disclose asbestos-related injury claims dating back to 2008. The lawsuit, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. vs. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., is filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio.

According to the lawsuit, Goodyear exhausted a prior insurance policy for asbestos-related claims without informing Berkshire Hathaway until 2015. The claims reportedly dated back to 2008. The policy in question, issued by Stonewall Insurance, was an “excess policy” that covered the company from July 1, 1976, to July 1, 1977. Berkshire Hathaway is seeking to avoid covering these claims and has asked for unspecified damages.

Types of Asbestos Lawsuit Claims

Goodyear workers may be able to take legal action against the company for a failure to warn about asbestos and a failure to protect from asbestos-related illnesses. The most common type of lawsuits are personal injury claims, which can be filed by individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related condition.

Types of mesothelioma personal injury lawsuits:

• Individual actions: focused on personalized legal representation. They may result in higher payouts and compensation for treatment costs, lost wages, and loss of future income.
  
• Class action lawsuits: Filed by a representative on behalf of a class of people. May be unsuitable for asbestos-related cases since mesothelioma lawsuits tend to favor state-level filings.
• Multidistrict Litigation (MDL): centralizes pretrial proceedings. Most mesothelioma cases, however, favor state-level filings. 

If a loved one dies because of an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Loved ones of individuals who worked at Goodyear or may have had secondhand exposure from a worker may be able to file a cause of action based on wrongful death. It is important, however, to discuss your case with an attorney to determine the best course of action.

Eligibility for Mesothelioma Compensation

In order to file a claim based on mesothelioma, Goodyear workers must meet certain eligibility criteria. The best way to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements is by consulting with an attorney. Criteria may include proof of exposure and diagnosis, proof of employment, and proof of illness-related losses. All cases are subject to a state-specific statute of limitations, which is why it is critical to speak to an attorney immediately after your diagnosis.

Statute of Limitations on Asbestos Claims for Goodyear Workers

The statute of limitations or legal deadline by which you must take legal action is defined by state. Therefore, it is essential to discuss your case with an attorney to determine the state-specific statute of limitations you must meet. Generally, statutes of limitations begin to toll from the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure. Different legal actions may have varying deadlines with which you must follow.

Settlement Amounts for Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuits

Settlement amounts for mesothelioma lawsuits for Goodyear workers are expected to vary substantially based on the individual circumstances of the case. A typical settlement amount is expected to range between $1 million and $1.4 million. However, several factors may include the amount, including your asbestos exposure history, disease type, cancer stage, and whether other companies may be held liable.

The average jury award for Goodyear workers who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions is expected to be between $5 and $11.4 million. However, these awards will vary significantly depending on the specifics of the case.

Asbestos Trust Funds for Goodyear Employees and Workers

In 2004, Travelers Insurance established an $80 million trust for U.S. rubber workers, including those from Akron, Ohio, who were affected by asbestos exposure. To date, Goodyear has not filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or established an asbestos trust fund. Goodyear workers diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases may be entitled to compensation from the company or suppliers who provided Goodyear with asbestos-containing products.

How to File a Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit

To file a Goodyear asbestos lawsuit, you need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help you navigate the legal process and determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements for filing a lawsuit. 

Have a Goodyear Mesothelioma Legal Question?

Do you have a Goodyear mesothelioma legal question? Our lawyers can help. At King Law, we are well-versed in helping mesothelioma victims and their families secure compensation for their losses. Contact our office today to speak with an attorney. 

Contact a Goodyear Asbestos Lawyer

At King Law, our attorneys have helped countless families secure the compensation they deserve after a devastating asbestos-related diagnosis. We are here to help ensure you receive the financial recovery you deserve. Contact our firm today to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation. 

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