🏭 Crown Cork & Seal Company – Asbestos Exposure Through Acquisitions and Packaging Machinery

Crown Cork & Seal Company, originally a manufacturer of bottle caps and packaging equipment, became involved in asbestos litigation largely through corporate acquisitions and its own packaging machinery that used asbestos-containing parts. This exposure risk affected machinists, factory workers, and maintenance personnel across industrial facilities in the U.S.

🏢 Company Overview

• Founded: 1892

• Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Core Business: Beverage and consumer goods packaging (metal cans, bottle caps)

• Still in Business? ✅ Yes

• Asbestos Trust Fund? ❌ No (has fought against establishing one)

🧱 How Asbestos Was Involved

Although Crown Cork & Seal was not a major asbestos manufacturer itself, it acquired companies that had significant asbestos liabilities. Most notably:

• In 1963, it acquired Mundy Corporation, a contractor that had installed asbestos insulation.

• It also used asbestos-containing parts in bottle capping machines and industrial packaging equipment, including gaskets and insulation.

These components released airborne asbestos fibers during operation, servicing, and repairs.

👷 Who Was Exposed?

🧑‍🏭 Workers at Risk

• Machinists and plant mechanics

• Equipment maintenance crews

• Factory workers handling packaging lines

• Contractors servicing or retrofitting machines

🏭 Secondhand Exposure

• Families of factory workers exposed through dust on work clothing

• Long-term exposure in bottling plants and warehouses

⚖️ Legal History & Asbestos Lawsuits

Crown Cork & Seal has faced tens of thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits, primarily due to:

1. Acquiring Mundet Cork Company, which made asbestos insulation

2. Maintaining older machinery with asbestos seals and gaskets

3. Exposure claims by workers at plants using Crown equipment

🧾 Legal Developments:

• Crown has paid millions in settlements but fought aggressively in court to limit liability

• It has not created an asbestos trust

• Courts in some states have allowed lawsuits to proceed despite the limited original involvement

📊 Estimated Exposure Totals

➡️ Estimated Total Exposure: 65,000+ people

📆 Chronological Use of Asbestos

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

⚖️ Can I still sue Crown Cork & Seal?

✅ Yes. Individuals exposed through Crown machinery or its acquired subsidiaries may still be able to file a lawsuit, especially if diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

📅 What is the filing deadline?

Most states require claims to be filed within 2–3 years of diagnosis. Delays may limit eligibility, so legal consultation is urgent.

📁 What proof is needed?

• Proof of working with Crown equipment or at facilities using it

• Diagnosis of asbestos-related disease

• Testimony or documentation showing workplace conditions

📌 Crown Cork & Seal Asbestos Summary