Fibreboard Asbestos Exposure, Trust & Compensation

Fibreboard Corporation (FB) produced asbestos-containing insulation and other building materials. After Owens Corning acquired the company, it assumed liability for remaining Fibreboard asbestos lawsuits. The company filed for bankruptcy and formed the Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust to compensate victims exposed to Fibreboard asbestos products who’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases. If you or a loved one were exposed to FB products and developed an asbestos illness, you may be eligible for compensation. ELSM Law can help file your Fibreboard asbestos trust claim.

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Fibreboard Asbestos Trust At a Glance

• The Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust has paid approximately $1.41 billion to asbestos victims with funds remaining.
• To file a trust claim, the victim must have a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos illness and prove Fibreboard is responsible for the exposure.
• Fibreboard asbestos exposure may have occurred through use of insulation and other construction products at work or during home renovations.
• ELSM Law asbestos attorneys can assess your eligibility, collect the required documents, and file your asbestos claim.

Understanding the Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Fund

In October 2000, Owens Corning along with its subsidiary Fibreboard Corporation, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy to manage costs after several asbestos lawsuits were brought against them. In 2006, they created an asbestos trust fund. The Owens Corning/Fibreboard Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Trust includes a separate Fibreboard sub-fund established to compensate victims exposed to FB products. On August 27, 2007, the Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust sub-fund began accepting and processing claims.

The Delaware Claims Processing Facility, LLC continues to handle these FB asbestos claims today. The trust has received over 809,000 claims and paid over 436,800 claims since it was established.

In 2024, the Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust:

• Paid over 21,300 claims.
• Received over 28,000 unliquidated claims.
• Paid approximately $24.05 million to asbestos victims.
• Reported approximately $265 million in total assets.
• Reported over $1.13 million in settled but unpaid claims.

Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust Payment Percentage

The Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust will compensate asbestos victims based on the payment percentage system, which is designed to preserve money for future claims. The current payment percentage is 3.7% for the Fibreboard Asbestos Trust. At a payment percentage of 3.7%, a Fibreboard mesothelioma claim filed under the expedited review process can be expected to receive the minimum standard scheduled value payment of $4,995.

Determining Review Process for Fibreboard Claims

When filing a Fibreboard claim, an experienced asbestos attorney will review the asbestos victim’s exposure history, medical records, and personal background to determine the best filing process to maximize compensation.

Two claim review options are:

• Expedited Review: When filed under the Expedited Review process, the trust evaluates if the claim meets the Trust Distribution Procedures to qualify for the standard value payment percentage.
• Individual Review: When filed under the Individual Review process, the trust thoroughly evaluates the claimant’s exposure, medical records, and other personal information to determine the liquidated value of the claim based on individual circumstances. There are certain diagnostic and exposure factors that require IR filing.

An ELSM Law asbestos attorney will carefully evaluate the claimant’s information to file a mesothelioma claim correctly. Compensation varies based on age, exposure, diagnosis, and the firm’s settlement history.

Fibreboard’s Role in Asbestos Exposure

Fibreboard Corporation was a major manufacturer of asbestos-containing products in the U.S. between the 1920s through the 1970s. After acquiring the PABCO (Pacific Asbestos and Building Company) brand, Fibreboard expanded its asbestos product line for residential, commercial, and industrial construction use.

The company failed to warn workers and consumers about the safety hazards associated with asbestos exposure. Although Fibreboard eventually stopped using asbestos in its products, existing materials remained in use putting workers and consumers at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Key events in Fibreboard’s asbestos history include:

• 1884: Fibreboard emerged with its first industrial insulation plant in Emeryville, CA.
• 1917: The Fibreboard Corporation was founded after the consolidation of various corporations.
• 1928: PABCO became a division of Fibreboard and assumed full ownership and liability for its asbestos product line. It continued producing asbestos cement products.
• 1972: Fibreboard stopped manufacturing products with asbestos.
• 1973: In Borel v. Fibreboard, the court ruled that FB and other manufacturers were liable for the asbestos-related injuries caused by their asbestos products, and they had a legal duty to warn users of the health risks. This landmark decision set a precedent in asbestos litigation allowing injured workers to sue companies for failing to protect them from asbestos exposure.
• 1997: Owens Corning acquired the Fibreboard Corporation and became liable for FB’s asbestos exposure claims.
• 1999: In Ortiz v. Fibreboard Corp., the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a proposed mandatory class action asbestos settlement. The Court ruled that FB failed to prove it had a limited fund and that future claimants were not adequately represented. The decision preserved the rights of individuals to pursue separate claims, set stricter standards for mass tort class action settlements, and influenced how future bankruptcy trusts would be structured.
• 2000: After facing thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits between the 1970s through the 1990s, Owens Corning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
• 2006: The Owens Corning/Fibreboard Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was created, including the Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust sub-fund organized to handle all current and future FB asbestos claims.

Fibreboard Asbestos Products

Fibreboard manufactured building materials that contained asbestos for fire resistance, insulation, and durability. Fibreboard Corporation owned the PABCO brand and manufactured asbestos products, including pipe insulation, block insulation, asbestos cement siding, shingles, ceiling tiles, and fireproofing sprays.

Fibreboard manufactured and sold a variety of asbestos products, including:

• Asbestos Cement: Commonly used in insulation for piping, sheets and panels, and in siding and roofing during construction to provide weather and heat protection.
• Asbestos Shingles and siding: Contained asbestos cement and was commonly used in residential roofing applications.
• Block Insulation: Used to insulate industrial equipment to withstand high temperatures.
• Ceiling Tiles: Often used in commercial, residential, and industrial building applications to improve fires resistance, soundproofing, and durability.
• Fireproofing Sprays: Used to coat structural steel for fire resistance in commercial buildings.
• Floor Tiles: Asbestos was widely used in vinyl and asphalt tiles for its durability and fire resistance. Exposure often occurred while cutting, sanding, and removing tiles improperly.
• Pipe Insulation: Wrapped around piping and heat systems to retain heat and fire resistance.

The following Fibreboard asbestos products were commonly used:

Who Was Most At-Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

In addition to Fibreboard Company employees, various tradesmen and home renovators were frequently exposed to FB asbestos products. Family members of individuals who used these products were also at risk of secondary exposure.

Occupational Exposure

Workers in industrial, commercial, and residential construction were frequently exposed to Fibreboard asbestos-containing building materials. Despite increasing evidence of health dangers associated with asbestos exposure, tradesmen were not properly warned or provided adequate protection.

Occupations at greater risk of Fibreboard asbestos exposure include:

Home Renovation Exposure

Homeowners, contractors, and other laborers who completed repairs to residential homes were often exposed to Fibreboard products. Installing, applying, or removing materials including siding and shingles, roofing, and insulation products during home repairs released asbestos fibers that renovators inhaled. Individuals that were present during this work were also at risk of asbestos exposure.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Workers frequently carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, shoes, and hair, unknowingly exposing their family members to secondary asbestos exposure. This often occurred through close contact or while handling and laundering contaminated work clothes.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma and lived with someone who worked with or around Fibreboard asbestos products, you may be eligible to file a claim with the bankruptcy trust.

Understanding Your Legal Right to Compensation

Submitting a mesothelioma claim with the Fibreboard asbestos trust requires specific documentation that complies with the Trust Distribution Procedures and filing deadlines. A mesothelioma law firm like ELSM can assist with the procedures.

An asbestos attorney at ELSM will:

• Review your medical records to determine your FB asbestos claim eligibility.
• Collect your employment history to identify potential exposure sites.
• Connect your exposure sites to known FB product use or obtain written testimony of product exposure.
• File your FB claim correctly using the required documentation.
• Monitor claim progress and communicate with trust regarding claim status.

ELSM Law has decades of experience managing asbestos trust claims and understands how to navigate the process to help victims get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a claim through the Fibreboard Asbestos Trust?

An ELSM asbestos attorney will evaluate your case and help you navigate the mesothelioma claim filing process. They will submit a completed Fibreboard claim form along with any required exposure, medical, and personal documentation.

Can a family member file a Fibreboard Asbestos claim?

Yes, family members can file mesothelioma claims after death on behalf of the injured victim. Family members who experienced secondary asbestos exposure may be eligible to file a Fibreboard claim.

How much compensation can I receive through the Fibreboard asbestos trust?

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will assess your case to determine the appropriate review type to select when filing a Fibreboard asbestos claim. A mesothelioma claim could receive a payout between $4,995 and $16,650 based on the current FB asbestos trust payment percentage.

How long do I have to file a claim with the Fibreboard asbestos trust?

The deadline to file a Fibreboard claim varies by state, buy typically requires filing within 3 years from the date of diagnosis or within 3 years from the initial FB claims filing date. An asbestos attorney will determine the statute of limitations to file your claim on time.