About the Kaiser Gypsum Trust
Kaiser Gypsum Company was a major manufacturer and distributor of gypsum-based construction products, primarily serving the West Coast market throughout the mid-to-late twentieth century. Kaiser Gypsum produced gypsum wallboard (drywall) and joint compound — the materials used to finish interior walls and ceilings in residential and commercial construction. During the 1950s, 1960s, and into the early 1970s, Kaiser Gypsum's joint compound products contained asbestos fibers, which were mixed into the compound to improve workability, reduce cracking, and enhance adhesion. The result was a product that, when mixed from dry powder, applied, and especially when sanded smooth, released dangerous respirable asbestos fibers into the air of enclosed construction spaces.
Drywall work is inherently dusty. Tapers and drywall finishers who mixed Kaiser Gypsum joint compound from dry powder created clouds of asbestos-laden dust. The sanding of dried joint compound to achieve smooth wall surfaces generated even finer airborne particles that could remain suspended in the air for hours. In the poorly ventilated conditions typical of interior construction work, workers and nearby tradespeople breathed these fibers day after day, year after year, with no understanding of the health risk and no respiratory protection. Decades later, many of these workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma — a cancer that typically does not appear until 20 to 50 years after initial asbestos exposure.
Kaiser Gypsum Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2016 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The company cited its substantial asbestos personal injury liabilities as the primary basis for the filing. The bankruptcy reorganization plan was confirmed by the court in 2021, establishing the Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust. The trust is designed to handle all pending and future asbestos personal injury claims arising from exposure to Kaiser Gypsum products. Because the trust was confirmed relatively recently, specific trust payment details including the final payment percentage and scheduled values were still being finalized as of the trust's establishment.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust |
| Predecessor Company | Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. |
| Bankruptcy Filing Year | 2016 (Chapter 11, W.D. North Carolina) |
| Plan Confirmation Year | 2021 |
| Payment Percentage | TBD — being determined |
| Mesothelioma Scheduled Value | Being determined |
| Claims Processor | Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos PI Trust (contact through your attorney) |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Asbestosis, Other Asbestos Disease |
| Primary Products | Gypsum wallboard, asbestos-containing joint compound (dry powder formula) |
| Primary Market | West Coast residential and commercial construction |
Note: Because the Kaiser Gypsum Trust was recently established following a 2021 plan confirmation, the payment percentage and final scheduled values are still being set. Contact an asbestos attorney for the most current information on this trust's payment structure.
Who Is Eligible to File a Kaiser Gypsum Trust Claim
The Kaiser Gypsum Trust compensates individuals who were exposed to asbestos from Kaiser Gypsum wallboard or joint compound products and who have been diagnosed with a qualifying asbestos-related disease. Exposure to Kaiser Gypsum products was most concentrated among construction trades workers in California, Oregon, Washington, and other western states where Kaiser Gypsum products were widely sold.
Occupations With High Kaiser Gypsum Exposure Risk
- Drywall tapers and finishers who mixed, applied, and sanded Kaiser Gypsum joint compound
- Drywall installers (hangers) who worked alongside tapers in interior finishing work
- Plasterers who used Kaiser Gypsum products in wall finishing applications
- Painters who sanded joint compound before priming and painting interior walls
- Carpenters who performed interior finish work in proximity to drywall finishing operations
- Electricians and plumbers who worked in buildings during active drywall finishing
- Tile setters and flooring workers who were present during construction finishing phases
- General contractors and construction supervisors present during interior finishing work
- Remodelers and renovation contractors who sanded or disturbed walls finished with Kaiser Gypsum compound
- Homeowners or building owners who performed DIY repairs involving Kaiser Gypsum joint compound
- Demolition workers who disturbed walls containing Kaiser Gypsum products
Key Geographic Areas and Worksites
- Residential construction throughout California, Oregon, and Washington
- Commercial construction projects on the West Coast during the 1950s–1970s
- School, hospital, and government building construction in western states
- Multi-family residential development (apartments, condominiums) on the West Coast
- Industrial and warehouse construction projects where Kaiser Gypsum materials were specified
Exposure Timeframe
Kaiser Gypsum's asbestos-containing joint compound was sold primarily from the late 1940s through the early 1970s, when asbestos began to be phased out of such products following increased regulatory scrutiny. Workers who applied or sanded Kaiser Gypsum joint compound during this period, or who worked in buildings where these products were used, are at risk of asbestos-related disease. Because renovation and remodeling work continued to disturb pre-existing installations well into the 1980s and 1990s, some workers may have had significant exposure during that period as well.
Qualifying Diagnoses
- Mesothelioma (pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial)
- Lung cancer with documented asbestos exposure
- Asbestosis confirmed by appropriate medical evaluation
- Other asbestos-related diseases as defined in the trust's distribution procedures
How to File a Claim With the Kaiser Gypsum Trust
Because the Kaiser Gypsum Trust was established relatively recently following a 2021 plan confirmation, its processes are still being refined. The general claims filing process follows the structure common to all asbestos trusts:
- Hire an asbestos and mesothelioma attorney immediately. Given that the Kaiser Gypsum Trust is newly operational, legal guidance is especially important to navigate the current procedures. All asbestos attorneys work on contingency — no upfront payment is required. Time is critical given statute of limitations rules.
- Document your exposure to Kaiser Gypsum products. Your attorney needs to establish that you specifically worked with or around Kaiser Gypsum joint compound or wallboard products. Product labels, invoices, purchasing records, co-worker testimony, and jobsite documentation can all help establish product-specific exposure.
- Gather complete medical records. A confirmed pathology report establishing your mesothelioma or asbestos disease diagnosis is the foundation of your claim. Your attorney will collect all relevant medical records and may consult with an occupational medicine specialist or oncologist.
- Build your employment and work history documentation. Union records, Social Security Administration earnings records, employer records, and co-worker affidavits can establish the years and locations of your construction work where Kaiser Gypsum products were in use.
- Your attorney files the complete claim package. The submission includes all required trust claim forms, medical records, work history documentation, product identification evidence, and any supporting affidavits. Your attorney manages the entire submission on your behalf.
- The trust reviews the claim under its distribution procedures. The Kaiser Gypsum Trust evaluates whether the claim meets medical and exposure criteria. Expedited processing may be available for patients with terminal diagnoses who need faster resolution.
- Accept or contest the payment offer. Upon review, the trust makes a payment offer. You and your attorney will assess whether the offer reflects the proper scheduled value and payment percentage, and decide whether to accept or pursue individual review for a higher amount.
Can You File Other Claims in Addition to a Kaiser Gypsum Claim?
Yes, and doing so is essential for construction workers, who typically worked with products from many different manufacturers over the course of their careers. The asbestos-containing joint compound market in the mid-twentieth century included several major brands alongside Kaiser Gypsum — including Georgia-Pacific, United States Gypsum (USG), and National Gypsum. Many of these companies have also established asbestos trusts. Construction workers who used products from multiple manufacturers may be eligible to file with each manufacturer's trust independently.
Beyond joint compound trusts, construction workers were frequently exposed to asbestos from other products used on their jobsites — insulation, floor tiles, roofing shingles, pipe covering, fireproofing spray, and ceiling tiles, all from different manufacturers. An experienced mesothelioma attorney will carefully analyze your complete work history and identify every trust for which you may qualify, often resulting in claims against five or more trusts simultaneously.
Civil lawsuits against solvent defendants — companies that sold asbestos products and have not filed for bankruptcy — are also available in many cases and can significantly increase your total recovery. Trust fund claims do not preclude civil litigation, and both tracks can be pursued at the same time. Your attorney will recommend the best combination of legal strategies based on your specific exposure history and diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust is the asbestos bankruptcy trust established after Kaiser Gypsum's 2016 Chapter 11 filing and 2021 plan confirmation. It compensates workers and others who developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or other asbestos diseases from exposure to Kaiser Gypsum's asbestos-containing joint compound and wallboard products used primarily in West Coast construction.
Kaiser Gypsum filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2016 because of substantial asbestos personal injury liabilities arising from its historical manufacture and sale of asbestos-containing joint compound. The company faced increasing numbers of mesothelioma and asbestos disease claims from construction workers who had used its products decades earlier. Bankruptcy reorganization allowed the company to establish a structured trust to handle all current and future claims in an equitable manner.
Kaiser Gypsum's primary asbestos-containing product was its joint compound, which was sold in dry powder form and mixed with water before application. The dry powder formulation contained chrysotile asbestos fibers. When the dry compound was mixed — and especially when dried joint compound was sanded — asbestos fibers were released into the air. The company's gypsum wallboard (drywall panels) may also have contained asbestos in certain formulations. If you are unsure whether a specific product you used was a Kaiser Gypsum product, an attorney can help research that question.
Quite possibly. Kaiser Gypsum was a major supplier to West Coast construction during the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. Drywall workers — tapers, finishers, and those who sanded joint compound — are among the highest-risk occupations for Kaiser Gypsum exposure. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, you should speak with an attorney who can evaluate your specific work history and confirm whether Kaiser Gypsum products were likely present at your jobsites.
Despite sharing the Kaiser name, the Kaiser Aluminum Trust and Kaiser Gypsum Trust are entirely separate legal entities covering different companies, different products, and different categories of workers. Kaiser Aluminum covers workers at aluminum smelting facilities exposed to asbestos insulation and refractory materials. Kaiser Gypsum covers construction workers exposed to asbestos-containing wallboard and joint compound. Workers who had exposure to both companies' products could potentially file with both trusts independently.
Yes. State statutes of limitations apply — typically one to three years from the date of diagnosis or the date you reasonably knew or should have known your illness was caused by asbestos exposure. Trust fund claims generally must be filed within these state law periods. Because the Kaiser Gypsum Trust is newly established and procedures are still being formalized, it is especially important not to delay. Contact an attorney immediately after diagnosis.