Manville Area Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Industry | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns-Manville Corporation (Manville Plant) | Asbestos Manufacturing | 1886–1982 | Critical |
| 2 | Manville Community Exposure Zone | Community Asbestos Exposure | 1900–1982 | Critical |
| 3 | Certainteed Corporation (nearby NJ operations) | Asbestos Roofing Products | 1920–1979 | High |
Johns-Manville Manville Plant: The Origin of Modern Asbestos Litigation
Johns-Manville Corporation built its flagship manufacturing plant in Manville, NJ in the 1880s and expanded it continuously through the mid-20th century. At peak operation, the plant employed several thousand workers and processed hundreds of tons of raw asbestos fiber daily. The plant manufactured insulation pipe covering (Superex, Unibestos), roofing products (Transite pipe, asbestos shingles), and industrial insulation that was sold throughout the country. Johns-Manville’s own internal documents — later made public in litigation — showed that company executives knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure and concealed them from workers for decades.
When Johns-Manville filed for bankruptcy in 1982, it established the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust with an initial endowment of over $2 billion. The trust has since paid billions more to workers, their families, and community members. Manville plant workers or their surviving family members who have not yet filed claims should consult an attorney — the trust continues to accept new claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Johns-Manville plant workers in Manville were among the most severely asbestos-exposed workers in American history. The company processed raw asbestos continuously for nearly a century, and plant workers — particularly those in milling, mixing, and manufacturing operations — breathed asbestos fiber daily. When the health consequences became undeniable in the late 1970s and early 1980s, thousands of workers filed suit. Johns-Manville filed for bankruptcy in 1982 and established the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust to compensate workers. The trust has paid billions of dollars in claims and continues to accept new filings from newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients.
Yes. The Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust (now administered as part of the Asbestos Claims Facility) continues to accept claims from workers who were exposed to Johns-Manville asbestos products and from nearby community residents who experienced secondary exposure. New Jersey’s 2-year statute of limitations for lawsuits (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2) runs from diagnosis, but trust fund claims have their own separate deadlines that are often more flexible. An attorney specializing in mesothelioma can help you file both a lawsuit and a trust claim simultaneously.