Asbestos lung cancer claim: trust values and proof needed
You may seek money straight from bankruptcy funds with an asbestos lung cancer claim, skipping court. A scheduled value is the base dollar amount each trust sets for an illness before using its payment percentage. You need medical proof of lung cancer plus records of at least 5 years in qualifying asbestos work to qualify.
Values for lung cancer at 34 trusts
| Trust | Lung cancer | Other cancer (throat, stomach, colon) | Share paid | Paid today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T H Agriculture & Nutrition | $65,000 | $30,000 | 16.3% | $10,595 |
| A. P. Green | $59,906 | $28,040 | 6% | $3,594 |
| Raytech (Raymark) | $59,249 | $30,918 | 1.35% | $800 |
| Duro Dyne | $52,550 | $21,020 | 20% | $10,510 |
| ACandS | $50,000 | $14,000 | 2.89% | $1,445 |
| Motors Liquidation (old GM) | $50,000 | $10,000 | 10.3% | $5,150 |
| Pittsburgh Corning | $47,500 | Not scheduled | 19% | $9,025 |
| USG (United States Gypsum) | $45,000 | $15,000 | 10% | $4,500 |
| Congoleum | $44,034 | $13,210 | 8.67% | $3,818 |
| Armstrong World Industries | $42,500 | $21,500 | 7.8% | $3,315 |
| Federal-Mogul | $42,500 | Not scheduled | 2.9% | $1,233 |
| W. R. Grace | $42,000 | $20,000 | 30.1% | $12,642 |
| Keene | $41,200 | $21,500 | 1.05% | $433 |
| Owens Corning / FibreboardOwens Corning claims | $40,000 | $22,000 | 4.3% | $1,720 |
| Owens Corning / FibreboardFibreboard claims | $27,000 | $12,000 | 3.5% | $945 |
| Christy Refractories | $40,000 | $20,000 | 55% | $22,000 |
| ARTRA | $40,000 | $10,000 | 0.7% | $280 |
| Quigley | $35,000 | $15,000 | 13.3% | $4,655 |
| Babcock & Wilcox | $35,000 | $18,500 | 4.3% | $1,505 |
| Bondex | $33,333 | $6,667 | 29.5% | $9,833 |
| Brauer Supply | $30,000 | $18,000 | 9.5% | $2,850 |
| Burns and Roe | $30,000 | $15,000 | 36.87% | $11,061 |
| United Gilsonite | $27,260 | $11,682 | 3.35% | $913 |
| Maremont | $27,233 | $5,790 | 28.4% | $7,734 |
| Fuller-Austin | $25,500 | $15,500 | 45% | $11,475 |
| Leslie Controls | $25,000 | $15,000 | 6.25% | $1,563 |
| Paddock (Owens-Illinois) | $25,000 | $10,800 | 65% | $16,250 |
| Flintkote | $20,000 | Not scheduled | 15% | $3,000 |
| Yarway | $17,500 | $5,000 | 27.5% | $4,813 |
| Hercules Chemical | $14,000 | $3,900 | 2% | $280 |
| H. K. Porter | $12,000 | $7,500 | 3% | $360 |
| Shook & Fletcher | $6,000 | $2,500 | 58% | $3,480 |
| U.S. Mineral Products | $4,000 | Not scheduled | 32% | $1,280 |
| National Gypsum | $3,750 | $1,600 | 45% | $1,688 |
Each trust lists its scheduled value on its claim value page or in its distribution procedures. To get "paid today," multiply that value by the trust's current payment percentage.
Ask which trusts take a lung cancer claim for this work history.
How is a lung cancer claim valued by trusts?
Trust funds created by bankrupt asbestos firms now hold more than $30 billion altogether. Of the 54 active trusts, 48 list a current payment percentage that ranges from 0.7% to 100%. Based on how many products they worked around, most families submit claims to several trusts at once. Though the same payment percentage applies, the scheduled value for lung cancer is lower than for mesothelioma, a chest lining cancer.
What is the average settlement for an asbestos lung cancer claim?
In the United States, typical payouts fall between $100,000 and $400,000, with some patients getting $1 million or more. You may sue companies still operating and also file trust claims against manufacturers that have gone bankrupt. Most lawsuits end in settlements rather than trials, and that usually takes 1 to 2 years. Afterward, payment normally begins within 90 days.
Can I receive compensation if asbestos exposure caused my lung cancer?
Yes, you can. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have faced exposure and can seek payments from multiple sources. The National Cancer Institute states that asbestos leads to cancers in the ovary, larynx, and lung. It takes 10 to 40 years or longer for symptoms to show up, and no level of exposure is safe. Those with pleural disease, which affects the thin membrane surrounding the lungs, might also have a higher risk of lung cancer.
What proof do trusts request?
Funds like the Armstrong World Industries trust need 5 years of asbestos job experience for fast-track claims. Of those years, at least 2 must occur before December 31, 1982. Three regular activities count as qualifying work:
- Producing asbestos goods while regularly exposed to raw fibers.
- Directly handling, fixing, or modifying asbestos products.
- Working near people who manufactured, handled, or repaired such products.
You may ask for an individual review with sworn statements or job records if you do not meet standard rules. Cancer is confirmed by a pathology report, which is a tissue study done at a hospital, or by a doctor's exam. You also must have a doctor link your case to asbestos in writing, plus proof of plaques or non-cancer scarring in both lungs.
Will a history of smoking disqualify your claim?
You are not disqualified from payouts for a smoking history if you also worked around asbestos products. When smoking and asbestos exposure combine, the resulting lung cancer risk exceeds the sum of the two separate risks. Although shared-blame laws in many states can lower lawsuit awards for smokers, you can still receive money.
Filing deadlines and asbestos claims after death
Depending on state law, parents, children, spouses, and occasionally siblings may file a claim after a relative passes away. Deadlines for state lawsuits range from 1 to 6 years following diagnosis or death (1 year in California). In many states, the timeline begins once you discover asbestos caused your illness, and most trusts give you a few years.