Ferodo America Inc. (Ferodo) exposed thousands of workers and consumers to asbestos through its products and building materials. Asbestos, a toxic group of minerals, is linked to serious illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. If you or a loved one worked for Ferodo or was exposed to one of its asbestos-containing products and developed mesothelioma, you may be eligible for compensation from the company’s asbestos trust fund.
What Is Asbestos? How Was it Used by Manufacturers?
Asbestos refers to six silicate minerals that were mined and used widely for manufacturing purposes throughout most of the 1900s. Manufacturers added asbestos to various consumer products and materials for its natural characteristics, which include heat and chemical resistance. Unfortunately, asbestos is recognized as a carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer in people who are exposed.
The National Cancer Institute states that no level of asbestos exposure is safe for humans. Asbestos is connected to a terminal type of cancer known as mesothelioma, as well as chronic lung diseases and other severe health problems. Although federal regulations were passed to control the use of asbestos in consumer products in the 1970s, these restrictions came too late for hundreds of thousands of victims who had already been exposed to this toxic substance.
Ferodo’s Asbestos Products
Ferodo was founded in 1897 as a brake company. In 1926, it became part of Turner & Newall, after which it incorporated asbestos into its braking and friction materials. Asbestos was a popular choice for friction products and automotive parts due to its resistance to heat, corrosion, and wear and tear. Ferodo was the first company to make use of asbestos to produce brake linings.
The use of asbestos in Ferodo’s brake products put its workers at risk of harmful asbestos exposure. Employees working in the Ferodo factory may have breathed in asbestos dust that was present in the atmosphere where they produced asbestos-containing brake linings and other materials. In addition, Ferodo’s asbestos products endangered the lives of auto mechanics who worked with their brakes.
Ferodo continued using asbestos in its products for about five decades. During this time, they exposed thousands of victims to this toxic substance. They did so without warning consumers of known potential health risks or providing adequate equipment to protect workers from asbestos inhalation or ingestion on the job. Numerous former employees are now struggling with life-changing diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result.
Ferodo and Federal-Mogul
In 1998, Turner & Newall was acquired by the Federal-Mogul Corporation, another major manufacturer of asbestos-containing products in the automobile industry. Federal-Mogul was known for manufacturing bearings, bushings, and various construction and automotive materials. In addition to Turner & Newall – and, by association, Ferodo – Federal-Mogul also acquired Fel-Pro and Flexitallic, two other companies known for their use of asbestos in products.
What Is the Federal-Mogul Asbestos PI Trust?
In the 1990s, Federal-Mogul faced thousands of lawsuits from workers who developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses from its products and those manufactured by its various subsidiaries. In 2001, these lawsuits led to Federal-Mogul filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In 2007, the Federal-Mogul Asbestos PI Trust was created as part of the company’s bankruptcy restructuring.
Asbestos trust funds are sources of compensation reserved for victims with asbestos injuries. They allow victims to hold a bankrupt company responsible for their illnesses and related losses, including health care costs and mesothelioma treatments, without having to establish the negligence of the company. The Federal-Mogul Trust was originally funded with $635 million in assets that were divided among multiple subfunds.
This trust has a separate subfund for Ferodo under its subsidiary Turner & Newall. The payment percentage for this subfund is currently 5.9 percent to help ensure that money remains available for future victims of asbestos exposure. This means that approved claims will be paid at a rate of 5.9 percent of their assigned values.
How Much Compensation Is Available?
Filing a claim with the Federal-Mogul Trust as a victim of Ferodo’s asbestos-containing product(s) could result in financial compensation for medical expenses, end-of-life care, funeral and burial costs (for a deceased loved one), lost wages, and more. The potential value of an asbestos trust fund claim depends on the claimant’s circumstances.
The Ferodo subfund has the following scheduled values for different types of claims:
| Scheduled Disease | Scheduled Value | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Mesothelioma (Level VIII) | $50,000 | $62,500 | $150,000 |
| Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII) | $10,625 | $15,000 | $31,250 |
| Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI) | None | $3,000 | $10,000 |
| Other Cancer (Level V) | $3,700 | $4,900 | $22,500 |
| Severe Asbestosis (Level IV) | $10,625 | $13,625 | $31,250 |
| Asbestosis/Pleural Disease
(Level III) |
$3,175 | $3,375 | $6,250 |
| Asbestosis/Pleural Disease
(Level II) |
$1,425 | $1,450 | $2,000 |
| Other Asbestos Disease
Cash Discount Payment (Level I) |
$50 | None | None |
Upon approving a claim, the trustees will determine its value based on several factors that are unique to the individual. These generally include the claimant’s diagnosis, illness severity, age, health and occupation. The Federal-Mogul Trust states that its goal is to “process and pay all asbestos trust claims on an impartial, first-in-first-out basis.”
How to File a Claim for Asbestos Exposure From Ferodo Products
Filing a claim with the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Trust requires collecting information and documentation connected to your case, including all relevant medical records, an official diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease, letters from your doctor and evidence of exposure to asbestos from a Ferodo product.
Next, you and your mesothelioma attorney can choose the appropriate claim option for your case: an individual review or expedited review. Both have different advantages; an expedited review is faster, while an individual review could result in greater financial compensation for your losses. Your lawyer can fill out and submit the required Claim Form on your behalf.
Supporting documentation must be filed along with the Claim Form. A claim can be filed electronically or mailed to: T&N Subfund of the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust, P.O. Box 8401, Wilmington, DE 19899-8401. Hiring an attorney to represent you during a Ferodo asbestos claim can improve your odds of success.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos by Ferodo? Contact Us Today
You are not alone as a victim of asbestos exposure. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis and believe Ferodo is responsible for your asbestos exposure, contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP for legal assistance right away. We can review your case and give you tailored legal advice, including determining if you have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit. Request a free case consultation at (866) 871-7971.
