Bondex Asbestos Trust Fund, Exposure & Compensation

Bondex International, Inc. was a leading manufacturer of joint cement, joint compound, patching plasters, and other building materials. The company produced many of these products with asbestos fibers for durability and heat-resistance.

After facing numerous asbestos lawsuits, Bondex filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and created the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust to compensate victims exposed to Bondex asbestos products.

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If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma or another asbestos disease after exposure to Bondex products, an asbestos attorney at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) can help you file a Bondex asbestos trust claim.

Bondex Asbestos Trust At a Glance

• The Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust has paid approximately $382.7 million to asbestos victims with funds remaining.
• To file a Bondex asbestos trust claim, the victim must be diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease and prove Bondex is responsible for the exposure.
• Bondex asbestos exposure may have occurred through use of Bondex joint compound or other Bondex asbestos products on the job or during home renovations.
• ELSM Law asbestos lawyers will review your case to determine your eligibility and file a Bondex asbestos claim on your behalf.

Understanding the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Fund

On May 31, 2010, Specialty Products Holding Corporation (SPHC) and Bondex International each initiated a reorganization proceeding by filing for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to address pending and future asbestos personal injury claims. The court subsequently confirmed a Joint Plan of Reorganization on December 10, 2014 to resolve those claims.

The Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established in 2016 pursuant to the Chapter 11 plan of reorganization for Bondex International, Inc. and affiliated entities, including SPHC, Republic Powdered Metals, Inc. (RMP), and NMBFiL, Inc. to process and pay valid asbestos personal injury claims in accordance with the Trust Distribution Procedures.

The asbestos trust fund began accepting claims on July 1, 2016, and has paid more than 13,500 claims since the Trust’s inception. The Claims Processing Facility, Inc. (CPF) continues to process these Bondex asbestos claims today.

In 2024, the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust:

• Paid over 970 claims.
• Received over 3,360 personal injury claims.
• Paid approximately $26.7 million to asbestos victims in claim settlements.
• Reported over $781,000 in settled but unpaid claims.
• Reported approximately $557 million in total assets.

Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Payment Percentage

The Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust will compensate asbestos victims exposed to Bondex asbestos products based on the payment percentage system that is designed to preserve money for future claims. The current Bondex Asbestos Trust payment percentage is 29.5%. At a payment percentage of 29.5%, a Bondex mesothelioma claim filed under the expedited review process can be expected to receive the standard scheduled value payment of $23,600.

Determining Review Process for Bondex Claims

When filing a Bondex asbestos claim, an experienced asbestos lawyer will review the victim’s exposure, medical, and personal records to determine the appropriate review filing process to maximize the claimant’s compensation.

Two claim review options are:

• Expedited Review (ER): An ER claim undergoes a standardized review to confirm that it meets all requirements established in the Trust Distribution Procedures to qualify for the standard value payment percentage.
• Individual Review (IR): An IR claim receives an in-depth evaluation of the claimant’s records to determine the individual liquidated value of the claim that may exceed the standard value. Certain exposure and medical circumstances require IR filing.

An asbestos attorney at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen will evaluate the claimant’s information to file a mesothelioma claim. Compensation depends on factors such as age, diagnosis, asbestos exposure, and the firm’s past settlement history.

Bondex’s Role in Asbestos Exposure

Bondex International originated from The Reardon Company, which began manufacturing joint compounds and other building materials in the late 1950s. Reardon was acquired by Republic Powdered Metals, Inc. (RPM), and continued producing and marketing the Reardon product line. In the early 1970s, RPM formed Bondex International, Inc. as a subsidiary and transferred the Reardon product line to the new entity. Bondex continued manufacturing and selling asbestos-containing products under its own name.

As awareness of asbestos-related illnesses increased, Bondex became the subject of significant asbestos litigation, which ultimately led to bankruptcy proceedings and the creation of an asbestos trust to compensate individuals harmed by asbestos products.

Key events in Bondex’s asbestos history include:

• 1966: RPM acquired The Reardon Company and continued manufacturing asbestos-containing products.
• 1972: Bondex was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of RPM and acquired the Reardon division, assuming all associated business and asbestos liabilities.
• 1977: Bondex discontinued manufacturing joint compound products with asbestos.
• 1980s: Mesothelioma lawsuits were filed against Bondex, alleging exposure to asbestos-containing products.
• 1999: Bondex ceased operations and transferred certain assets to sister companies, DAP Products, Inc. and Zinsser Co., both subsidiaries of RPM, while continuing to manage asbestos litigation.
• 2000s: Asbestos litigation against Bondex increased substantially as mesothelioma claims rose nationwide.
• 2002: RPM reorganized its specialty products business into Specialty Products Holding Corp. (SPHC), which became Bondex’s ultimate parent company.
• 2006: A California jury awarded approximately $15.25 million to the family of a construction worker who died of mesothelioma attributed in part to Bondex asbestos products.
• 2006: A Los Angeles jury found Bondex partially liable in an asbestos exposure case and awarded $12.6 million to a homeowner with mesothelioma following repeated exposure to asbestos-containing joint compounds.
• 2010: Bondex and SPHC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address thousands of pending asbestos claims filed against the company.
• 2016: The Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established and began accepting Bondex asbestos-related personal injury claims.

Bondex Asbestos Products

Between 1961 to 1977, Bondex manufactured and sold a variety of asbestos-containing products that were widely used for commercial and residential building and construction. Asbestos fibers were incorporated into these products for fire resistance, insulation, and durability. These products were used by professional contractors as well as homeowners.

Bondex manufactured and sold the following asbestos products:

• Joint cement: A sealing and finishing compound providing structural strength that was applied to fill, smooth, and reinforce joints, seams, cracks, and holes in walls and ceilings.
• Joint compound: Applied to drywall seams to seal and smooth the joints between wallboards.
• Patching plaster: Used to repair surfaces by filling cracks, holes, and joints in walls and ceilings.
• Roof coating: Protective material applied to roofs to provide waterproofing, fire resistance, and durability.
• Texture paint: Coating applied to walls and ceilings using a brush, roller, or spray to create a textured finish while reinforcing the surface.
• Wood putty: Filler material used to repair and smooth imperfections in wooden surfaces.

The following Bondex asbestos products were commonly used:

Who Was Most At-Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Individuals who worked directly with asbestos-containing Bondex joint compound, joint cement, patching plasters, putties, and other asbestos-containing products were at a greater risk of developing different types of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Family members of these workers who were exposed to Bondex asbestos products also faced the risk of secondary exposure.

Occupational Exposure

Bondex employees who directly handled the Bondex asbestos products and other tradesmen who worked with or around Bondex products at commercial and residential construction jobsites were regularly exposed to asbestos.

Despite growing evidence of health risks associated with asbestos exposure, tradesmen were not properly warned or provided adequate protection when handling Bondex products.

Occupations at greater risk of Bondex asbestos exposure include:

Home Renovation Exposure

Homeowners and workers performing remodeling in residential homes were often exposed to Bondex joint compound products. Mixing, applying, and sanding these products released asbestos fibers, which could be inhaled by workers.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Individuals who worked directly with Bondex asbestos products may have unknowingly put their family members at risk of secondary asbestos exposure when carrying asbestos fibers home on their clothing, shoes, and hair. This exposure occurred through direct contact with an individual covered in asbestos particles or while handling and washing contaminated clothing.

If you believe your mesothelioma diagnosis is related to secondary exposure, you may be eligible to file a Bondex Asbestos Trust claim.

Understanding Your Legal Right to Compensation

Filing a Bondex asbestos claim with the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust requires specific documentation that complies with the Trust Distribution Procedures and filing deadlines.

An asbestos lawyer at ELSM will:

• Review your medical records to assess your Bondex asbestos claim eligibility.
• Collect your employment history to identify Bondex asbestos product use.
• Connect your exposure to known Bondex asbestos work or obtain written testimony confirming Bondex asbestos product exposure.
• File your Bondex asbestos claim correctly with the required documentation.
• Monitor Bondex asbestos claim status and contact the Trust administrators to ensure timely progress.

With decades of experience handling asbestos trust claims, ELSM Law has the knowledge to guide asbestos victims through the claim filing process and is committed to helping clients obtain the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a Bondex claim through the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust?

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will review your case and guide you through the mesothelioma claim filing process. They will prepare and submit the claim form with all the necessary documentation to the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust.

Can a family member file a Bondex Asbestos claim?

Yes, family members are able to file mesothelioma claims after death on behalf of a loved one who had exposure to Bondex asbestos products. Family members who have experienced secondary asbestos exposure and were diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer may qualify to file a Bondex asbestos claim.

How much compensation can I receive through the Bondex Asbestos Trust?

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will review your case to determine the appropriate review process to file a Bondex asbestos claim. A mesothelioma claim could receive a settlement between $23,600 and $88,500 based on the current Bondex asbestos trust payment percentage.

How long do I have to file a claim with the Bondex Asbestos Trust?

The deadline to file a Bondex asbestos claim is set by the Bondex Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP). Under the TDP, individuals diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness after bankruptcy filing may generally file a claim within three years of diagnosis or within three years of the Trust’s Initial Filing Date of January 1, 2017, whichever is later. An ELSM Law asbestos attorney will evaluate your case and determine the correct filing deadline to ensure your claim is submitted within the applicable statute of limitations.