Asbestos is a dangerous group of minerals that can cause a range of serious illnesses, including an aggressive form of cancer known as mesothelioma. Before the use of asbestos became regulated in the United States, dozens of major manufacturing companies used it as a primary ingredient in building and construction materials. One of these companies was the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation.
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos through a product that was manufactured by Pittsburgh Corning, you may be eligible to collect compensation through the company’s asbestos trust fund. Find out if you qualify during a free case consultation with an attorney at Bailey & Glasser, LLP.
What Is the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Trust?
The Pittsburgh Corning Corporation was a major manufacturer of construction and building products that contained asbestos from the 1930s until the 1970s. Starting in 1972, people who had been exposed to asbestos in these products began filing lawsuits against the corporation for their illnesses and injuries connected to this toxic mineral.
In 2000, the company filed for bankruptcy protection and created the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust. This trust fund contains money that is reserved to compensate those with injuries caused by exposure to Pittsburgh Corning’s asbestos products. The trust ensures that the money is protected and used only for this specific purpose.
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation’s Most Popular Asbestos Products
The Pittsburgh Corning Corporation was founded in 1937 as a glass block manufacturer. It is most well-known for its Unibestos pipe insulation and insulation block products – two items that contained asbestos. The corporation developed these products by working with UNARCO Industries in the 1960s, a major manufacturer of aluminum products, construction materials, and machinery and equipment.
Pittsburgh Corning’s most popular asbestos-containing products included:
- Industrial packing materials
- Molded block insulation
- Molded sheet insulation
- Pipe insulation
- Rubberized gaskets
Until 1972, all of the products in the company’s Unibestos line contained asbestos. This put thousands of workers and homeowners at risk of harmful exposure to asbestos and illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. In 1972, federal agencies deemed Pittsburgh Corning’s asbestos-containing materials so dangerous that they ordered its plant located in Tyler, Texas to close down and buried its equipment.
Who Is Eligible for the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Trust?
Any person who is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another illness related to exposure to asbestos could be eligible for compensation through the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Trust if the exposure incident can be traced back to a product manufactured by this company. The most common plaintiffs are workers who were exposed to asbestos on the job from Pittsburgh Corning.
High-risk workers include:
- Laborers
- Manufacturing plant workers
- Pipefitters
- Boilermakers
- Insulation installers
- Construction workers
- Contractors
- Renovators
- Demolition workers
- Firefighters
Residents of buildings that were constructed using asbestos-containing materials made by Pittsburgh Corning could also be at risk of serious illnesses, including individual homes and multifamily properties. Secondhand asbestos exposure is another potential health risk. This refers to workers exposing their family members to asbestos by bringing particles home on their clothing or gear.
Compensation Available for Asbestos Injuries
The Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Trust Fund is one of the largest asbestos trust funds in the United States, with around $3.6 billion in available compensation when it was founded in 2017. This fund has already settled over 260,000 claims for a total of $2.8 billion paid to claimants. The remaining amount in the trust is still available to victims with injuries from asbestos exposure due to Pittsburgh Corning’s products.
With a successful trust fund claim, you and your family may be able to recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills
- Disability expenses
- Lost wages and future capacity to earn
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket costs and attorney’s fees
- Wrongful death damages
Pittsburgh Corning’s latest notice states that claims against the personal injury trust will be paid out at a rate of 24.5 percent of the value of the claim. This helps to ensure that future asbestos exposure victims have access to compensation through the claim. The amount that may be available to you depends on your situation, such as your diagnosis and long-term prognosis.
How to File a Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Trust Fund Claim
Each asbestos trust fund has its own procedures for filing a claim and receiving payment. Pittsburgh Corning’s procedures require claimants to choose between two filing processes: expedited review or individual review. The expedited review has a shorter process and faster payment. The individual review is more detailed and takes longer. Both come with different pros and cons. The right process for you will depend on your unique situation and case goals.
An attorney from Bailey & Glasser, LLP can review your case and let you know which filing option suits your needs. Then, we can help you obtain and fill out the required paperwork to initiate your trust fund claim. Our attorneys can investigate your case and gather evidence to prove your injury, such as medical records and medical expert testimony. We can apply for fair financial compensation from the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Trust for you while you focus on what matters most.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claim vs. Mesothelioma Lawsuit
You may be eligible for financial compensation through an asbestos trust fund claim as well as a mesothelioma lawsuit brought against Pittsburgh Corning. A lawsuit requires you or your lawyer to prove that the company’s product was defective and caused your injury (a product liability claim). Under the rule of strict product liability, you typically do not have to prove negligence to establish a manufacturer’s liability for a product that contained asbestos.
It is also possible for victims of asbestos exposure to file a lawsuit on the assertion that the manufacturer was negligent. Negligence is the failure to use ordinary care, resulting in harm to others. The failure of Pittsburgh Corning Corporation to warn workers and consumers of known hazards associated with toxic asbestos minerals in its products, for example, could constitute negligence. This may make your family eligible for financial compensation through a lawsuit in addition to an asbestos trust fund claim. An attorney can review your legal options with you.
Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP for Assistance
The Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Trust Fund was established to provide financial compensation to victims of asbestos exposure. To find out if you qualify, contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP. Our asbestos attorneys will help you fight for the compensation that you deserve through all available sources. Call (866) 871-7971 today.
