Finch Pruyn Asbestos Lawsuit & Mesothelioma Claims [2026 Update]

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Finch Pruyn & Company (Finch Paper) ran a paper mill in Glens Falls, New York, in the 1900s. Finch Pruyn relied on asbestos-containing materials, causing some workers or their family members to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma patients are suing the companies that manufactured the asbestos products used at Finch Pruyn, because they were not properly warned about the dangers of asbestos.

This page discusses the history of Finch Pruyn’s use of asbestos, how workers encountered asbestos, and the health risks those workers experienced because of it. We also explain who can file a Finch Pruyn asbestos lawsuit, what compensation mesothelioma patients can receive, and the filing deadlines to bring these types of claims.

About the Finch Pruyn Asbestos Lawsuit

Finch Pruyn Paper Company and Its History of Asbestos Use at Paper Mills

Finch, Pruyn & Company was founded in 1865, making its debut as a lumber company along the Hudson River before transitioning to paper production in 1905. Atlas Holdings and Blue Wolf purchased Finch Pruyn in the early 2000s, and the company was renamed Finch Paper.

Like other paper mills, Finch Pruyn used asbestos to contain heat and control unwanted fires, which were essential to preserving the paper products the company made. Asbestos was used by many industries from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Asbestos had many users in a paper mill. Asbestos could have been used in the following capacities at Finch Pruyn:

• Brake linings of rolling machines
• Boiler insulation
• Dryer felts
• Gaskets
• Heating, cooling, and water pumps
• Pipes and steam lines
• Transite pipe coverings
• Valves

Additionally, asbestos-containing insulation may have lined the walls, and asbestos could have been present in the ceiling panels and floor tiles. Renovation, construction, and maintenance crew members may also have disturbed asbestos fibers when servicing, building, or renovating Finch Pruyn’s mill.

Which Finch Pruyn Paper Facility Had Asbestos

Finch Pruyn’s paper mill in Glens Falls, New York, is a source of asbestos exposure for mesothelioma patients who used to work at this facility. Asbestos may have been found in many aspects of the papermaking process at Finch Pruyn, including the boilers, steam lines, rolling machines, dryer felts, and insulation.

Glens Falls Paper Mill

Finch Pruyn’s Glens Falls paper mill is an expansive complex that, in 2007, produced upwards of 250,000 tons of paper each year. Many paper mills, like those at Finch Pruyn, used boilers, steam pipes, and other equipment insulated with asbestos. The buildings that housed the papermaking equipment were also frequently insulated with asbestos and lined with asbestos flooring tiles and ceiling panels. Asbestos-containing parts were also found at paper mills, including in gaskets, felts, valves, rolling-machine brakes, and clutches.

Which Finch Pruyn Jobs Were at the Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Workers who worked directly with asbestos-based products at Finch Pruyn’s Glens Falls paper mill are at risk of developing cancer from asbestos, such as mesothelioma.

Some of the jobs and occupations that possibly exposed Finch Pruyn workers to asbestos include:

• Tradespeople (e.g., boilerworkers, HVAC technicians, steamfitters, electricians)
• Mechanics
• Maintenance workers
• Millwrights
• Insulators

This includes tradespeople, mechanics, and millwrights who directly applied asbestos insulation or worked with asbestos-lined equipment at the Finch Pruyn mill who may be at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Mechanics, maintenance workers, and technicians who serviced, replaced, or installed boilers, dryers, and pipe systems were also at high risk of encountering airborne asbestos fibers.

For example, a study of papermill workers found that those who worked in mills between 1960 and 2008 had a 3.29% greater likelihood of developing pleural mesothelioma  than the general population, even at low asbestos exposure levels. This study supports that even short-term or contract work that exposed workers to asbestos could lead to an eventual mesothelioma diagnosis.

Asbestos fibers can also travel through the ventilation systems and collect on dust throughout the complex. So, even Finch Pruyn workers in administrative or supervisory roles who did not come into direct contact with asbestos-containing materials could have been exposed while working at the mill’s offices.

How Were Finch Pruyn Workers Exposed to Asbestos

Finch Pruyn workers could have been exposed to asbestos in many different ways. For example, one study found that paper mill workers encountered asbestos   in the drying machines, which led to mesothelioma diagnoses later in life for some of these workers. In fact, workers in that study had a 37% greater chance of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma compared to the general population.

People at Finch Pruyn who worked on or with boilers, Transite (asbestos-cement pipe), and steam lines could also breathe in disturbed asbestos fibers. Workers and contractors involved in renovations or the construction of new buildings at Finch Pruyn could also come into contact with asbestos-laden materials, equipment, and insulation.

Maintenance workers who cleaned on-site machinery using compressed air could release asbestos fibers into the atmosphere at Finch Pruyn. Family members of Finch Pruyn workers may have also been exposed to asbestos fibers that were inadvertently brought home on their loved ones’ work clothes, shoes, and bodies.

What Health Risks Are Linked to Finch Pruyn Asbestos Exposure

Generally, if people inhale or ingest asbestos fibers, they are at a higher risk of developing certain types of lung cancer, mesothelioma (e.g., pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, or another form), asbestosis, and other conditions.

Asbestos exposure at paper mills, like those owned by Finch Pruyn, is linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma as well as asbestosis. Loved ones who were exposed to “take-home” asbestos from Finch Pruyn’s facilities are also at an increased risk of developing pleural plaques.

Studies show that mesothelioma can develop “15 to 40 years or more”   after the person encounters asbestos. For that reason, someone who worked at Finch Pruyn in the mid-1900s or later may not be diagnosed with mesothelioma until well into their retirement years.

Who Qualifies to File a Finch Pruyn Asbestos Lawsuit

Former Finch Pruyn workers who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may file an asbestos lawsuit or submit a trust fund claim to a bankrupt asbestos company’s trust. They may be entitled to compensation if they or their attorney can trace their asbestos exposure to their time working for Finch Pruyn.

Family members of those who worked at Finch Pruyn may also have an asbestos claim if they believe they were exposed to asbestos on their loved one’s work clothes and later developed mesothelioma. People may seek compensation in a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit if they lost a spouse, child, parent, or other close relative because of a mesothelioma diagnosis from asbestos sources at Finch Pruyn.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Finch Pruyn Asbestos Lawsuit

Compensation from an asbestos lawsuit involving Finch Pruyn could encompass all losses stemming from the exposure and resulting mesothelioma diagnosis. The financial settlement should address the full scope of the person’s damages, including the financial strain of having to pay medical bills and not being able to earn a living wage.

If a former Finch Pruyn worker developed mesothelioma and files a successful claim, they or their family could receive compensation for the following:

• Lost income/earning potential
• Injuries
• Medical bills
• Treatment and transportation costs
• Loss of consortium
• Wrongful death
• Pain and suffering

The settlement should compensate for the limitations that a mesothelioma diagnosis places on someone’s life. For example, the compensation package should account for the patient’s pain and suffering from having mesothelioma and the challenges of engaging with loved ones and hobbies like they could before. In some cases, the court may award punitive damages to punish the asbestos product manufacturer for malicious or egregious conduct.

How Can You File a Finch Pruyn Asbestos Lawsuit

Bringing a Finch Pruyn asbestos lawsuit involves building a strong case supported by evidence linking the patient’s mesothelioma diagnosis back to their time at the paper mill. Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Call a mesothelioma attorney and tell them you think you have an asbestos case.
• Help your attorney get the medical records to prove when and why the patient was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
• Find basic proof that you worked at Finch Pruyn on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis (even short-term or outsourced projects at Finch Pruyn could have exposed you to asbestos).
• Track your asbestos exposure at Finch Pruyn to the companies that made the products used at the mill.
• Your attorney writes a complaint with the evidence to support your Finch Pruyn asbestos lawsuit.
• If applicable, your lawyer submits asbestos trust fund claims to recoup compensation from now-bankrupt businesses that supplied asbestos products to Finch Pruyn.
• Your attorney fights for a fair settlement to compensate you for your asbestos-related losses from your time at Finch Pruyn.

King Law can help you gather the necessary records for your asbestos lawsuit involving Finch Pruyn or one of its asbestos manufacturer partners. Our law firm can manage all steps of your Finch Pruyn asbestos lawsuit or trust fund claim, and we can pursue multiple sources of compensation on your behalf at once.

Is There a Deadline to File a Finch Pruyn Asbestos Lawsuit

Yes. You need to file your Finch Pruyn asbestos lawsuit before the applicable deadline expires. The exact timeframe that you need to take legal action depends on the type of asbestos claim you are bringing (e.g., direct personal injury lawsuit, trust fund claim, or wrongful death case) and the state law that applies to your case.

Some states require you to file within a few years after you discover that Finch Pruyn is the source of your asbestos exposure. However, these rules are technical and can change. Similarly, your lawsuit may not be filed in the state you live in or formerly worked in. Consult a reputable asbestos attorney to find out what your deadlines are and what you can do to protect your legal rights.

What Are the Estimated Finch Pruyn Asbestos Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

The amount that Finch Pruyn workers with mesothelioma can receive in compensation varies. The final payout estimate depends on factors like how the disease impacts their quality of life, the strength of their case, and the applicable liability laws.

That said, some people who bring Finch Pruyn-related asbestos claims could be awarded up to $250,000 or $1 million or more. However, this is not a guarantee. Mesothelioma patients and their surviving loved ones should talk to an attorney for an accurate estimate of what their potential payout could be for their Finch Pruyn asbestos claims.

King Law Is Investigating Finch Pruyn Asbestos and Mesothelioma Claims

King Law is actively reviewing asbestos claims involving former Finch Pruyn workers or contractors who developed mesothelioma. We have the tools to track down and pursue settlements for asbestos exposure that occurred decades ago at Finch Pruyn facilities. We also have the experience needed to help people who developed mesothelioma from take-home asbestos fibers from Finch Pruyn’s paper mill.

Contact a Finch Pruyn Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawyer Today

If you or your loved one worked with Finch Pruyn and developed mesothelioma, call us today at (585) 496-2648 to speak with an intake specialist on our team. We provide free case evaluations, and we can recommend next steps to move you closer to the compensation you deserve and the answers you seek. We do not charge for our services unless we secure you compensation.

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