Halliburton Company exposed thousands of people to a toxic substance known as asbestos through industrial equipment manufactured by its subsidiaries. Ultimately, exposing victims to asbestos forced the company to go bankrupt due to related litigation. A trust fund, the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos Personal Injury (PI) Trust, was created to help compensate victims.
At Bailey & Glasser, LLP, our asbestos attorneys represent victims who are suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses due to contact with asbestos products distributed by Halliburton Company. Contact us to find out if you have grounds for an asbestos trust fund claim during a free consultation.
How Asbestos Exposure Can Affect Health
Asbestos is a dangerous group of six silicate minerals that were all confirmed as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1987. Before the 1970s, however, manufacturers were permitted to use asbestos in products with no federal regulations. The use of asbestos has led to an average of 3,128 new cases of malignant mesothelioma (a cancer of the mesothelium) per year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition to mesothelioma, the following chronic illnesses are associated with exposure to asbestos:
If asbestos fibers become permanently lodged inside the body, they can cause irritation, scarring and a range of related health issues. Most diseases that are caused by asbestos exposure are marked by symptoms involving the lungs, such as respiratory problems, trouble breathing, chest pain and tightness, and a persistent dry cough.
Mesothelioma is the deadliest outcome of asbestos exposure. Patients who are diagnosed with this aggressive form of cancer have an average life expectancy of 12 to 21 months with treatment, according to the National Library of Medicine. Any individual with adverse health effects from exposure to asbestos may qualify for financial compensation from the party responsible.
Asbestos-Containing Products Distributed by Halliburton Company
Halliburton Company sold and distributed asbestos-containing products in the 1900s. Founded in 1919 in Houston, Texas, Halliburton focused on the production of oil-related industrial equipment. While Halliburton Company itself never used asbestos, it had multiple subsidiary companies that did. This includes Brown & Root Inc. and Dresser Industries Inc.
Asbestos-containing products and brands associated with Halliburton include:
- Pumps: Worthington Horizontal Single Air and Steam Heating Vacuum “AE” and “AF” Pumps, Worthington Monobloc Centrifugal Pump and “DE” Monobloc Pump, Worthington Split Case Centrifugal Horizontal Single Stage Volute Pump Types “R”, “L” and “U,” Worthington Horizontal Duplex Piston Pattern Steam Pump Types “VA” and “VC,” Worthington General Purpose “CF” Model Pump, Dresser Pumps, Ingersoll-Dresser Pumps, and Pacific Steam Turbopumps.
- Compressors: Clark Compressors, Roots Compressors, Worthington Compressors, Dresser-Rand Compressors and LeRoi Compressors.
- Turbines: Moore Turbines, Worthington Turbines, Worthington-Moore Turbines and Dresser-Rand Steam Turbines.
- Drilling muds: IMCO drilling mud styles: Best, Diaseal M, Flosal, Shurlift, Super Best, Super Visbestos, Univis and Visbestos. Magcobar/Dresser drilling mud styles: Diaseal M, Flosal, Olifaze, Visbestos and Visquick. Baroid drilling mud styles: Flosal, Diaseal M, Visbestos and Super Visbestos.
Other asbestos products from Halliburton include pipe coverings and coatings, insulation materials, and asbestos bricks. Alco Locomotives, Bay State Abrasive Products, Dresser Industries, Kellogg Brown & Root, Mason Standard Reducing Valves, and Mid-Valley are all asbestos brands sold or distributed by Halliburton Company.
What Is the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust?
Halliburton began facing lawsuits for exposing people to asbestos beginning in the 1970s. Litigation against the company grew until it reached a peak in the early 2000s – ultimately forcing Halliburton Company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2003. In 2005, an asbestos trust fund was established and initially funded with $5.1 billion in assets. The DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust was created to handle asbestos-related claims involving Halliburton and its various affiliates.
An asbestos trust fund can offer financial compensation to victims who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses without requiring them to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. As long as the claimant can prove using supporting documentation that he or she: 1) has been diagnosed with an illness or medical condition caused by asbestos exposure and 2) had contact with an asbestos-containing product distributed by a Halliburton Entity, the claimant may qualify for compensation from the trust.
The individuals who were most at risk of asbestos exposure from Halliburton Company include those in the oil and construction industries, such as oilfield, oil refinery and construction workers. Other at-risk workers include ironworkers, welders, pipefitters, boilermakers, demolition crews, electricians and shipyard workers. These workers were in high-risk occupations for environmental exposure to asbestos based on the nature of their jobs.
How to File a Claim With the Trust
If you wish to file a claim with the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust for harmful asbestos exposure from Halliburton Company, start by contacting a mesothelioma attorney. An attorney can review your rights and legal options, which may include a mesothelioma lawsuit in addition to an asbestos trust fund claim. If you are an eligible claimant for the DII Industries Trust, your lawyer can help you take the steps necessary to file.
Filing a trust fund claim involves:
- Gathering documents and records: collect all medical documents, diagnostic records, doctors’ notes and employment documents that prove your asbestos-related diagnosis and connection to a Halliburton asbestos product.
- Filling out the required form: download the trust’s Claim Form and fill it out correctly and completely with all requested information. This includes choosing whether you wish for an Expedited Review or Individual Review.
- Submitting the claim by the deadline: file the claim electronically or by mail to DII Asbestos PI Trust, P.O. Box 393, Wilmington, DE 19899-1036 before the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations.
Hiring an attorney can improve your chances of successfully collecting financial compensation from the DII Industries Trust Fund. Currently, these claims are paid out at a rate of 60 percent, which is high compared to most other asbestos trust funds. A payment percentage helps preserve funds for future victims by limiting an approved claim’s value to an assigned percentage.
Consult With an Attorney for More Information | Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP
If you believe you are entitled to financial compensation from the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust for exposure to asbestos caused by Halliburton Company or one of its affiliates, contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP to request a free case evaluation. Our team of asbestos attorneys has successfully represented clients for many years. Find out how we can help you by calling (866) 971-7971.
