Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill and Asbestos
Workers at the Crown Zellerbach pulp and paper mills in WA were likely exposed to airborne asbestos fibers, even as late as the 1990s. These microscopic fibers were inhaled by workers, resulting in workers developing mesothelioma and other deadly illnesses decades later. Our mesothelioma lawyers at Bergman Oslund Udo Little have helped thousands of asbestos exposure victims recover substantial compensation.
Brendan Little, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: August 9, 2024
Most asbestos exposure at paper mills like Crown Zellerbach occurred as a result of asbestos in steam equipment insulation, machinery components, and building construction materials. Workers exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing life-threatening illnesses later in life, yet there were no symptoms or warning signs that they were inhaling a toxic substance.
Crown Zellerbach failed to warn workers about the dangers of asbestos or provide meaningful protection. As a result, dozens of former workers and contractors developed mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer later in life. You may have also been exposed if you worked at Crown Zellerbach in Camas before the 1990s. Crown Zellerbach also operated paper mills in Port Townsend, Port Angeles, West Linn, and Wauna.
The first paper mill in the Pacific Northwest was established in 1867 in Oregon, and the Columbia River Paper Company was founded less than 20 years later in 1883. A 1905 merger with Crown Paper Company, followed by a merger with Zellerbach Corporation in 1928, resulted in the formation of the company now known as Crown Zellerbach. Crown Zellerbach was eventually purchased by James River, which was eventually purchased by Georgia Pacific, one of the largest paper and forest product manufacturers in the world.
Asbestos Exposure at Crown Zellerbach
The Crown Zellerbach Camas paper mill in Clark County was constructed as asbestos was becoming popular in construction and industrial machinery.
Dryer felts at Crown Zellerbach were made of asbestos yarn containing significant asbestos levels. Dryer felts carried large sheets of wet paper through heated rollers, which dried the paper. This was done during the final phase of paper production.
Workers most likely to be exposed to asbestos at Crown Zellerbach include the following:
- Millwrights
- Custodial staff
- Maintenance technicians
- Machine engineers and technicians
- Production workers during the late stages of production
- Building construction workers
Legal Help for Workers Exposed to Asbestos at Crown Zellerbach
If you are a former Crown Zellerbach worker or contractor with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to recover significant financial compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
Our mesothelioma attorneys at Bergman Oslund Udo Little have helped hundreds of asbestos exposure victims get justice against the manufacturing companies that wrongfully exposed them to asbestos. In fact, we recently won $1.4 million for a 63-year-old former Crown Zellerbach worker exposed to asbestos in multiple workplaces throughout his life.
It is important that you contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer in Washington without delay. The state limits your time to file a mesothelioma lawsuit to three years after your diagnosis. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations, and you can forfeit your right to recover compensation if you miss it.
We have a proven track record of getting the highest mesothelioma settlements and verdicts in Washington, with more than $1 billion recovered since we started fighting for asbestos clients in 1995. We understand the toll a mesothelioma diagnosis takes on a family. We will provide zealous advocacy to get you the justice you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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