Premises Description

Republic Steel Corporation (founded 1899, headquartered Cleveland Ohio; merged with LTV Corporation’s J&L Steel subsidiary in 1984 to form LTV Steel; ultimately bankrupt 2002, assets acquired by International Steel Group) was through the 20th century one of the principal U.S. integrated steel producers. Republic Steel asbestos-era operations included:

  • Cleveland OH — Republic’s corporate headquarters and the Cuyahoga River Works
  • Youngstown OH — major Mahoning Valley integrated mill (closed 1980)
  • Warren OH and Massillon OH — additional Ohio Valley operations
  • Buffalo NY — Lackawanna-adjacent operations
  • Birmingham AL — Republic’s Alabama integrated operations
  • South Chicago IL — additional operations
  • Gadsden AL — specialty operations

The Youngstown OH-Warren OH-Cleveland OH industrial corridor — known historically as “Steel Valley” — was dominated by Republic Steel along with Youngstown Sheet & Tube, U.S. Steel’s Ohio operations, and J&L Steel. Republic was the central premises defendant for trade workers and steelworkers across this Ohio Valley industrial corridor through the asbestos era.

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Republic Steel — as premises owner of its integrated mill operations — exposed its steelworker workforce (United Steelworkers Local representation) and contractor pipefitters, insulators, boilermakers, and trade workers to extensive asbestos materials including refractory insulation, pipe covering, fireproofing, and process gaskets.

Republic Steel Corporation has been named as a Premises Defendant in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation.

Workers Exposed

  • United Steelworkers Local members at Cleveland, Youngstown, Warren, Massillon, Buffalo, Birmingham, South Chicago, Gadsden
  • Refinery pipefitters and millwrights working Republic mill capital projects
  • Insulators (HFIAW Local members) — particularly HFIAW Local 3 Cleveland dispatched to Republic mills
  • Boilermakers (IBB Local members) building Republic furnaces and pressure vessels
  • Construction-trade workforces on Republic mill capital projects

If You Worked at a Republic Steel Mill

If you worked at a Republic Steel Corporation (or LTV Steel after 1984) integrated mill during the asbestos era — as a Republic employee or as a dispatched contractor trade worker — and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness, you may have legal rights.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956