Kaiser Gypsum Company Asbestos Exposure: Joint Compound, Trust Claims & Compensation

Kaiser Gypsum Company manufactured drywall products, including historical asbestos-containing joint compound. Published California and Washington appellate decisions provide unusually detailed product evidence. California records state that Kaiser Gypsum began manufacturing asbestos-containing premixed joint compound in 1959, phased asbestos out during the mid-1970s and stopped manufacturing and selling asbestos-containing products in early 1976. The same records distinguish Kaiser Gypsum wallboard, which did not contain asbestos, from wallboard-finishing compounds that did.

Kaiser Gypsum Company and Hanson Permanente Cement filed Chapter 11 on September 30, 2016. Their confirmed reorganization became effective August 12, 2021 and created the Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Personal Injury Trust. The Trust began accepting claims on October 10, 2022. A major current update occurred May 19, 2026: the Trustee increased the Payment Percentage from 55.2% to 62.0%. Unlike many asbestos trusts, the Kaiser Gypsum TDP does not publish a simple disease-level Scheduled Value table; insured and uninsured claims follow different valuation and insurance procedures, so this page does not invent a mesothelioma Scheduled Value.

🏢 Kaiser Gypsum History & Bankruptcy

Kaiser Gypsum was a construction-products manufacturer associated with gypsum wallboard and wallboard-finishing materials. The asbestos issue is product-specific: court records state its wallboard did not contain asbestos, while various compounds used to install and finish wallboard did contain asbestos during historical periods.

Company & Bankruptcy Facts

Topic	Confirmed information
Company	Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc.
Historical asbestos product	Joint compound / wallboard-finishing compounds.
Asbestos-containing premixed joint compound	California appellate record states production began in 1959.
Asbestos phase-out	By end of 1975 asbestos had been removed from all but one joint-compound product; asbestos-containing products ended in early 1976.
Manufacturing/sales ended	California appellate record states Kaiser Gypsum ceased manufacturing and sales operations in 1978.
Chapter 11 filing	September 30, 2016.
Bankruptcy case	Case No. 16-31602, Western District of North Carolina.
Plan effective	August 12, 2021.
Trust	Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Personal Injury Trust.

Bankruptcy / Trust Timeline

Date	Development
1950s–1970s	Kaiser Gypsum manufactured drywall products including asbestos-containing joint compounds.
1959	California appellate record: asbestos-containing premixed joint compound production began.
Early 1976	Company stopped manufacturing/selling asbestos-containing products.
1978	Kaiser Gypsum manufacturing and sales operations ceased.
September 30, 2016	Kaiser Gypsum and Hanson Permanente Cement filed Chapter 11.
July 28, 2021	District Court entered order confirming the Joint Plan.
August 12, 2021	Plan effective; Trust created and funded.
October 10, 2022	Trust began accepting claims.
May 19, 2026	Payment Percentage increased to 62.0%.

See Construction Materials Companies & Asbestos Exposure.

🧱 Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Joint Compound

Joint compound is the principal asbestos-containing Kaiser Gypsum product documented in published litigation. A Washington appellate decision involving Raymond Budd states that Kaiser manufactured drywall products including joint compound and that the joint compound Budd used from 1962 to 1972 contained Grade 7 chrysotile and Calidria chrysotile asbestos. California decisions separately confirm asbestos-containing premixed joint compound and distinguish it from non-asbestos Kaiser Gypsum wallboard.

Documented Product Evidence

Product / category	Evidence-based treatment
Kaiser Gypsum joint compound	Published appellate decisions confirm historical asbestos-containing formulations.
Premixed joint compound	California record states asbestos-containing premixed compound began in 1959.
Powdered joint compound	Florida appellate litigation documents mesothelioma allegations involving Kaiser Gypsum powdered joint compound mix.
Wallboard / drywall board	California appellate record states Kaiser Gypsum wallboard itself did not contain asbestos.
Gypsum plaster / gypsum lath	McGonnell record states these principal gypsum products did not contain asbestos.
Other finishing compounds	Some historical compounds used for installing/finishing wallboard contained asbestos; product and date must be verified.

Product Accuracy Rules

Statement	Accurate treatment
Historical Kaiser Gypsum joint compound contained asbestos	Confirmed.
Every Kaiser Gypsum product contained asbestos	Incorrect.
Kaiser Gypsum wallboard contained asbestos	Court record says its wallboard did not.
Asbestos-containing products continued indefinitely	No; court records state they ended in early 1976.
Any Kaiser-branded product proves asbestos exposure	No.
Product name, formulation and exposure date matter	Yes.

👷 Workers, Trades & Jobsites

Drywall finishing could expose workers when asbestos-containing joint compound was mixed, applied, sanded or cleaned up. Published cases involve drywall workers, painters, carpenters and construction workers who alleged repeated exposure to dust from Kaiser Gypsum joint compound.

Workers & Trades to Investigate

Worker / trade	Potential historical activity
Drywall finishers / tapers	Applying and sanding joint compound.
Drywall installers	Working near compound application and sanding.
Painters	Surface preparation and sanding finished walls.
Carpenters	Working around joint-compound application, sanding and cleanup.
Construction laborers	Cleanup of compound dust and debris.
Maintenance workers	Repairing finished walls and ceilings.
Remodelers / demolition workers	Disturbing historical wall-finishing material.
Nearby trades	Potential bystander exposure during dusty drywall work.

Jobsites & Evidence

Setting	Evidence to investigate
Residential construction	Invoices, product cartons, contractor records and coworker testimony.
Commercial buildings	Construction specifications, drywall contractor and purchasing records.
Industrial facilities	Maintenance/renovation records and product identification.
Schools / institutions	Building renovation and contractor records.
Drywall businesses	Employment, supplier and product records.
Trust exposure investigation	Claimant/coworker statements plus product/site evidence as required by TDP.

Need help now? Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Submit Your Case

🌫️ How Kaiser Gypsum Exposure Occurred

Published litigation describes repeated joint-compound work involving application, sanding and cleanup. Those activities can generate airborne dust. But product identification remains essential: the California Court of Appeal has also affirmed summary judgment where a claimant could not establish when the Kaiser Gypsum compound encountered was used and therefore could not show it was an asbestos-containing formulation.

Potential Exposure Activities

Activity	Potential pathway
Mixing dry compound	Dust from powdered historical formulation.
Applying joint compound	Direct handling of qualifying material.
Sanding dried compound	Dust generated while smoothing finished walls.
Cleanup	Sweeping or handling joint-compound dust/debris.
Wall repair	Disturbing historical finishing compound.
Renovation / demolition	Breaking or removing finished wall systems.

Exposure Questions

Question	Why it matters
Was the product made by Kaiser Gypsum?	Trust/product responsibility must be established.
Was it joint compound rather than wallboard?	Court records distinguish asbestos-containing compound from non-asbestos wallboard.
When was the product used?	Asbestos content changed during the 1970s.
What work created dust?	Supports exposure pathway.
How frequently was claimant exposed?	Relevant to causation and claim evidence.
Can product/site records corroborate exposure?	Reduces reliance on speculation.

⚖️ Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Trust & Claims

The Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established in 2021 under the confirmed reorganization of Kaiser Gypsum and Hanson Permanente Cement. Its claims process is unusual because most claimants must first resolve insured claims in the tort system and then seek applicable deductible amounts from the Trust. Uninsured claims follow separate TDP procedures.

Current Trust Facts

Trust fact	Confirmed information
Trust	Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Personal Injury Trust.
Established	August 12, 2021.
Claims began	October 10, 2022.
Claims processor	Verus, LLC.
Initial Payment Percentage	55.2%.
Current Payment Percentage	62.0%, effective May 19, 2026.
2026 change	Trustee increased percentage after updated claims/operating-cost analysis and TAC/FCR consent.
Supplemental payments	May 2026 resolution authorizes supplemental payments for claims previously liquidated at the initial percentage under TDP §4.3.
Disease-level Scheduled Value matrix	The operative TDP does not publish a conventional disease-level scheduled-value matrix.
Payment guarantee	None.

Insured Claim Deductible Structure

First-exposure period	TDP deductible tier
On or before December 31, 1975	$5,000.
January 1, 1976–March 31, 1981	$50,000.
April 1, 1981–March 31, 1983	$100,000.
Later / uninsured situations	Different TDP procedures may apply; do not assume a deductible tier equals claim value.

62% Mathematical Examples

Liquidated Trust value	Simple 62% illustration
$5,000	$3,100.
$10,000	$6,200.
$25,000	$15,500.
$50,000	$31,000.
$100,000	$62,000.

These examples are arithmetic only—not disease Scheduled Values or guaranteed payments. The 62% factor is applied to the value determined under the applicable TDP process. The deductible tiers above likewise should not be mistaken for guaranteed claim values.

📊 Documented Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Cases

Several published cases provide strong evidence about Kaiser Gypsum’s historical asbestos-containing joint compound while also illustrating the importance of product identification and exposure timing.

Selected Court Records

Record	Significance
Budd v. Kaiser Gypsum, Wash. Ct. App. (2022)	Mesothelioma case; court states joint compound used 1962–1972 contained Grade 7 and Calidria chrysotile and affirmed jury verdict.
Collin v. CalPortland, Cal. Ct. App. (2014)	States Kaiser Gypsum began asbestos-containing premixed joint compound in 1959 and stopped asbestos-containing products in early 1976.
McGonnell v. Kaiser Gypsum, Cal. Ct. App. (2002)	Distinguishes non-asbestos wallboard/plaster/lath from asbestos-containing wallboard-finishing compounds; exposure evidence was insufficient in that case.
Rich v. Kaiser Gypsum, Fla. Dist. Ct. App. (2012)	Mesothelioma litigation involving alleged exposure to asbestos in powdered Kaiser Gypsum joint compound.
Lanza NYCAL (2020)	Court record states Kaiser admitted selling asbestos-containing joint compound from mid-1950s to 1976 in those actions.
Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Gypsum, U.S. Supreme Court (2024)	Addresses insurer standing in Kaiser Gypsum/Hanson Chapter 11 plan and describes §524(g) Trust structure.
Fourth Circuit remand opinion (2025)	Records decades of asbestos-product litigation and more than 38,000 asbestos-related lawsuits since 1978.

Evidence Limits

Finding	Correct interpretation
Kaiser Gypsum made asbestos-containing joint compound	Confirmed.
Its wallboard itself contained asbestos	Not supported by cited California record.
Every joint compound encountered before 1978 contained asbestos	No.
A Kaiser product at a site automatically proves exposure	No.
62% is a mesothelioma payout rate against a published disease value	No; Trust has different insured/uninsured valuation mechanics.
Trust compensation is guaranteed	No.

📋 Claim Evidence & Trust Requirements

The Trust requires claimants to follow the TDP’s insured or uninsured claim procedures. The official website states that under most circumstances claimants must first assert claims against the Settlors in the tort system; most Trust filings occur only after the claim has been fully and finally resolved there. Claimants should determine which process applies before filing.

Evidence That May Help

Medical and pathology records supporting the claimed asbestos disease.
Employment, union and Social Security records.
Kaiser Gypsum joint-compound cartons, labels, photographs or invoices.
Drywall contractor and building records.
Coworker testimony identifying Kaiser Gypsum compound.
Evidence establishing the date of first exposure.
Insurance/tort-system settlement or judgment documentation for insured claims.
Current Trust claim form and supporting documents.

Claim Checklist

Step	Question
1	Is a qualifying asbestos-related disease documented?
2	Can exposure to a Kaiser Gypsum/Hanson product be established?
3	What was the claimant’s date of first exposure?
4	Is the claim insured or uninsured under the TDP?
5	Must the claim first be resolved in the tort system?
6	Are settlement/judgment and insurer records available?
7	Has the current 62% Payment Percentage been verified?
8	Have current statute-of-limitations and filing notices been reviewed?

2025 Trust Activity

Metric	Official 2025 annual report
Claims added to FIFO Processing Queue in 2025	194.
Claims paid in 2025	85.
Aggregate amount paid in 2025	$234,600.
Insured claims added since inception through Dec. 31, 2025	783.
Insured claims paid since inception through Dec. 31, 2025	158.
Outstanding offers at year-end	110.
Claims under review	30.
Claims determined deficient	437.
Uninsured claims filed through year-end 2025	0.

2025 Financial Snapshot

Item	December 31, 2025
Total assets	$63,846,150.
Total liabilities	$165,487.
Net claimants’ equity	$63,680,663.
Source	Audited special-purpose financial statements filed April 23, 2026.

Compensation is not guaranteed. The Payment Percentage may be adjusted in the future, and claim value depends on the applicable TDP procedure.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Did Kaiser Gypsum manufacture asbestos-containing products?

Yes. Published appellate decisions confirm historical asbestos-containing Kaiser Gypsum joint compounds. Court records also distinguish those compounds from Kaiser Gypsum wallboard, which did not contain asbestos.

When did Kaiser Gypsum stop using asbestos?

California appellate records state that by the end of 1975 asbestos had been removed from all but one joint-compound product and that Kaiser Gypsum stopped manufacturing and selling asbestos-containing products in early 1976.

Does Kaiser Gypsum have an asbestos trust?

Yes. The Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established on August 12, 2021 through the confirmed reorganization of Kaiser Gypsum Company and Hanson Permanente Cement.

What is the current Kaiser Gypsum Trust Payment Percentage?

The official Trustee resolution increased the Payment Percentage from 55.2% to 62.0%, effective May 19, 2026.

What is the Kaiser Gypsum mesothelioma Scheduled Value?

The operative TDP does not publish a conventional disease-level Scheduled Value matrix like many other asbestos trusts. Claim valuation depends on whether a claim is insured or uninsured and the applicable TDP procedures.

How are insured Kaiser Gypsum claims handled?

The Trust states that under most circumstances an insured claimant first resolves the claim in the tort system and then seeks the applicable Trust payment for the deductible or other amount determined under the TDP.

How many claims did the Trust pay in 2025?

The official 2025 annual report says the Trust paid 85 claims during 2025 in the aggregate amount of $234,600.

How much did the Trust report in assets at the end of 2025?

The audited financial statements report $63,846,150 in total assets and $63,680,663 in net claimants’ equity as of December 31, 2025.

🧾 Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Summary

Detail	Confirmed / carefully qualified information
Company	Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc.
Primary documented asbestos product	Historical joint compound / wallboard-finishing compound.
Wallboard asbestos content	Cited California record says Kaiser Gypsum wallboard did not contain asbestos.
Asbestos-containing premixed compound	Manufactured beginning in 1959; asbestos-containing products ended in early 1976 per California appellate record.
Chapter 11	September 30, 2016.
Trust established	August 12, 2021.
Claims began	October 10, 2022.
Current Payment Percentage	62.0%, effective May 19, 2026.
2025 claims paid	85 totaling $234,600.
2025 total assets	$63,846,150.
2025 net claimants’ equity	$63,680,663.
Disease Scheduled Value matrix	Not published in conventional form by the TDP.
Guaranteed compensation	No.

📚 Confirmed Primary & Court Sources

Submit Your Case

Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Submit Your Case

Working with Kaiser Gypsum drywall materials does not automatically establish a compensable asbestos claim. Product identity is especially important because court records distinguish asbestos-containing historical joint compounds from Kaiser Gypsum wallboard that did not contain asbestos. Exposure dates, medical evidence, insurance status and current Trust procedures must be evaluated individually. Compensation is not guaranteed.

⚕️ Legal & Medical Information Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information and is not legal or medical advice. Consult qualified healthcare and legal professionals for individual guidance.