Combustion Engineering manufactured and distributed many products that contained asbestos, leading to thousands of lawsuits being brought against the company. Ultimately, litigation from victims who were diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses resulted in Combustion Engineering declaring bankruptcy and establishing an asbestos trust fund to compensate victims.
If you were an employee of Combustion Engineering who developed an illness connected to exposure to asbestos, you may be eligible for financial compensation from the trust. Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP for a free case review to learn more.
Risks Associated With Exposure to Asbestos-Containing Products
Asbestos is a group of six carcinogenic minerals that were used by manufacturing companies as a cost-effective ingredient in many of their products in the 1900s. Various consumer goods and building materials relied on asbestos for its heat resistance and durability. Unfortunately, exposure to asbestos causes serious illnesses, including an aggressive type of cancer called mesothelioma, which has no known cure.
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos getting lodged in a victim’s mesothelial tissues upon inhalation or ingestion, where the fibers can remain for many decades. Over time (the average latency period is 20-60+ years), the embedded asbestos particles can cause enough irritation and scarring to lead to several different illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, a chronic lung disease called asbestosis and pleural conditions.
What Asbestos Products Is Combustion Engineering Responsible For?
Combustion Engineering, founded in 1912, was a leader in the development of steam and power systems. Initially, its products included boilers, boiler fuel systems and dryers. In the 1930s, the company expanded into steam engines for locomotives and assemblies for power plants, after merging with Superheater Company. As the company grew, so did its list of asbestos-containing products.
Combustion Engineering products that were known to contain asbestos include:
- Adhesives
- Asbestos rope
- Block stick
- Boiler insulation
- Cement materials
- Energy equipment
- Fossil and nuclear steam supply systems
- Insulating cements
- Insulation
- Protective coatings
- Shipbuilding materials
- Steam control equipment
- Steam engines
- Welded boilers
The brand names of these asbestos products include A-1199 Insulating Cement, Buck Stay Cement A1360, Calcrete 30 Insulating Cement, Griptex Mineral Wool Block, Gunisul, Hilite Insulating Cement, Kaiser blocks and cements, Lite Wate 22 and 55, Permaseal, and WeatherKote. Any contact or interaction with these products could expose an individual to health risks caused by asbestos.
Who Is Most at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Combustion Engineering?
Anyone who worked for Combustion Engineering at one of its product manufacturing facilities could have been exposed to asbestos during the production process. However, due to Combustion Engineering’s broad areas of interest, many people across various industries may have also been exposed to one of its asbestos products.
At-risk individuals include:
- Boiler installers
- Boilermakers
- Chemical plant workers
- Construction workers
- Demolition workers
- Insulators
- Lumberyard workers
- Metalworkers
- Military members
- Pipefitters
- Plant and refinery workers
- Power plant workers
- Railroad workers
- Shipbuilders
- Shipyard workers
- Textile workers
In addition, individuals who lived with at-risk workers may have been exposed to asbestos through secondary exposure. This can occur when a worker unknowingly carries asbestos fibers home on his or her clothing or skin and exposes anyone who comes into contact with the worker. A worker’s spouse and children are generally the most at risk.
What Is the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust?
Victims of asbestos exposure due to Combustion Engineering can recover compensation without having to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. This can be done by filing a claim with the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos Personal Injury (PI) Trust. This trust fund was established in 2006 as part of the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections, which were required when the company filed after facing financial debt due to asbestos liability.
The Combustion Engineering Asbestos Trust was originally given $1.43 billion in assets. As with other asbestos trust funds, this money was put aside to compensate victims who were diagnosed with mesothelioma and other illnesses connected to asbestos from Combustion Engineering products. Individuals who wish to seek compensation from the trust must fill out and submit the proper paperwork, along with supporting documentation.
Steps to File a Claim With the Combustion Engineering Asbestos PI Trust
The best way to initiate an asbestos trust fund claim is by hiring an experienced mesothelioma attorney to represent you. An attorney can guide you through the legal process and improve your odds of success. There are two types of trust claims available: expedited review and individual review. You and your attorney will need to decide which route is best for you based on your circumstances. Both have pros and cons, as well as different payment schedules.
Your lawyer will help you fill out the correct Claim Form. The form will ask questions about you, your health and your history with Combustion Engineering product(s). You will need to provide supporting documentation when you submit the Claim Form. This includes medical records showing that you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and occupational records or other documents establishing your contact with a Combustion Engineering asbestos product.
How Much Compensation Is Available?
The potential value of an asbestos trust fund claim will depend on the case. The Combustion Engineering Asbestos PI Trust pays approved claims at predetermined rates based on the type of diagnosis, whether it was an expedited vs. individual review claim and several other factors. For example, an expedited review could result in $75,000 for a claim involving mesothelioma, while an individual review could result in up to $95,000 for mesothelioma.
Asbestos trust funds use payment percentages to ensure that money will be available for future claimants. This percentage is subject to change. The payment percentage for a Combustion Engineering trust fund claim is 18.5 percent, as of November 2020. The money available is designed to help compensate victims and their families who were harmed by asbestos exposure to pay for medical expenses, costs of living, end-of-life care, lost wages, and more.
Contact the Asbestos Attorneys at Bailey & Glasser, LLP Today
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another illness related to exposure to asbestos as a former employee of Combustion Engineering or a consumer of one of its products, you may be eligible for a portion of the company’s asbestos personal injury trust. The attorneys at Bailey & Glasser, LLP offer free case consultations. Our mesothelioma lawyers will listen to your story and discuss your legal options in detail. Call (866) 871-7971 or contact us online today.
