Garlock Sealing Technologies Asbestos Trust, Exposure & Compensation

Garlock Sealing Technologies manufactured and sold asbestos-containing gaskets and pump and valve packing materials used in maritime, refinery, and other industrial applications.

After facing thousands of asbestos lawsuits, Garlock filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and established the GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust to compensate asbestos victims.

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

Garlock Asbestos Trust At a Glance

• The GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust was established in 2016 with funds remaining to pay eligible claimants.
• To file a Garlock Sealing Technologies asbestos trust claim, the victim must be diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease and prove Garlock is responsible for the exposure.
• Garlock asbestos exposure may have occurred through use of Garlock gaskets and packing materials while on the job.
• ELSM Law asbestos lawyers will review your case to determine your eligibility and file a Garlock asbestos claim on your behalf.

Understanding the GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust Fund

On June 5, 2010, Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC and certain affiliated entities, including The Anchor Packing Company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The court confirmed the reorganization plan on May 20, 2016.

The GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust became effective on July 31, 2017, and was funded with approximately $480 million to process and pay valid asbestos personal injury claims from exposure to products manufactured or supplied by Garlock Sealing Technologies and certain affiliated entities, including claims related to Coltec Industries.

The asbestos trust fund began accepting claims on September 17, 2018. The Verus, LLC claims processing facility continues to process Garlock Sealing Technologies asbestos trust claims today.

In 2024, the GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust:

• Paid approximately 2,700 claims.
• Received approximately 3,110 personal injury claims.
• Paid over $31.35 million to asbestos victims in claim settlements.
• Reported over $1.124 million in settled but unpaid claims.
• Reported approximately $387.33 million in total assets.

GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust Payment Percentage

The GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust does not apply a traditional payment percentage. Instead, claims are reviewed and paid in accordance with the Claims Resolution Procedures (CRP). The Trust does not use fixed Scheduled or Average Values; rather, each claim is assigned a Maximum Settlement Value based on the claimant’s disease level and exposure, as determined by the applicable Occupation Classification Contact Group chart. The claim value may be adjusted based on additional factors outlined in the CRP.

A Garlock mesothelioma claim that meets all exposure and medical criteria may qualify for the Maximum Settlement Value of up to $342,900; however, the actual compensation awarded will depend on the specific factors of the claim.

Determining Review Process for Garlock Sealing Technologies Asbestos Trust Claims

When filing a Garlock asbestos claim, an experienced asbestos lawyer will review the injured party’s personal records to determine the appropriate review process and help maximize the claimant’s compensation.

Two claim review options are:

• Expedited Claim Review: The Trust evaluates the claim using a formula based on the injured party’s exposure, medical, and personal records. Each claim is assigned to an occupation classification contact group and an “IP Factor Index” is applied to the maximum settlement value to calculate a Standardized Matrix Amount settlement offer.
• Extraordinary Claim Review: The injured party must have a malignant diagnosis with predominant exposure to Garlock/Coltec products and only minimal exposure to other asbestos products. The Trust determines the Maximum Extraordinary Settlement value by multiplying the standard Matrix Amount by five. The Trustees then set a final settlement percentage based on overall exposure and other filed claims. This decision is final and not subject to review.

Claim values are based on individual factors, including the injured party’s disease, occupation, industry, duration of exposure to Garlock/Coltec products, age, life status, dependents, economic loss, and jurisdiction. An asbestos attorney at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen will assess the claimant’s case to carefully prepare and file a mesothelioma claim.

Garlock’s Role in Asbestos Exposure

Garlock Sealing Technologies, founded in 1887, manufactured and sold industrial sealing products such as gaskets and packing materials used in piping and valve assemblies. From the mid-20^th century through the 1980s, Garlock incorporated asbestos into certain gasket and packing products for its heat resistance and sealing properties.

For decades, Garlock was named in approximately 900,000 asbestos lawsuits and claims, most alleging exposure to asbestos-containing sealing products such as compressed asbestos sheet gaskets and asbestos packing. The company disputed liability in these cases and resolved a vast majority through dismissal or settlement, with a small number proceeding to verdict. These asbestos liabilities were a significant factor in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which led to the creation of an asbestos trust fund designed to compensate asbestos personal injury claimants.

Key events in Garlock’s asbestos history include:

• 1975-1990s: Garlock and Anchor were named as defendants in hundreds of thousands of asbestos lawsuits alleging personal injuries or wrongful death from exposure to asbestos-containing products.
• 1976: Garlock was acquired by Coltec Industries and became a wholly owned subsidiary within its engineered industrial products division.
• Mid-1980s: Garlock began phasing out the use of asbestos in its gasket and packing products.
• 1987: Garlock acquired Anchor Packing, a manufacturer and distributor of industrial gaskets, pump packings, valves, and mechanical seals.
• 1999: Coltec Industries, including Garlock, was acquired by Goodrich Corporation and became a wholly owned subsidiary.
• 2002: Goodrich spun off its engineered industrial products segment into a new, independent company, EnPro Industries. Garlock became part of EnPro, and associated asbestos liabilities were transferred as part of the spin-off structure.
• 2006: A Virginia jury returned a $10.4 million verdict in a mesothelioma wrongful death case involving a former shipyard worker who was exposed to asbestos-containing gasket materials during his employment, with liability allocated among multiple manufacturers, including Garlock Sealing Technologies.
• 2010: Garlock Sealing Technologies and certain of its affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to resolve thousands of pending and future asbestos claims.
• 2017: The GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust officially became effective.
• 2018: The Trust became operational and began processing Garlock mesothelioma claims.

Garlock Sealing Technologies Asbestos Products

Asbestos was widely used in industrial manufacturing due to its heat resistance and durability. Garlock Sealing Technologies produced gaskets and packing materials for high-heat and high-pressure systems, incorporating asbestos fibers for insulation and sealing performance. These products could release asbestos fibers when disturbed during cutting, scraping, wire brushing, grinding, or removal.

Garlock manufactured, sold, and distributed the following asbestos products:

• Asbestos packing: A durable, heat-resistant braided sealing material made with chrysotile asbestos fibers and formed into rope or rings and compressed inside valves, pumps, and other equipment to prevent fluid and gas leaks under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
• Asbestos tape: A flexible, woven or braided material commonly wrapped around steam pipes, boilers, and exhaust lines to retain heat and protect equipment, and was applied to seal joints, flanges, and valves in high-temperature industrial systems.
• Compressed asbestos sheet gaskets: Flat sealing components made from compressed asbestos fiber sheets combined with binders and cut into specific shapes. They were used between pipe flanges, valves, and machinery to prevent leaks under heat and pressure.
• Spiral wound gaskets: Industrial sealing components that compress and recover under changing pressure and temperature conditions to prevent leaks of gases and liquids in high-pressure, high-temperature systems.

The following Garlock Sealing Technologies products contained asbestos during certain periods of manufacture:

Who Was Most At-Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Individuals who worked directly with Garlock gaskets and Garlock asbestos packing were at an increased risk of occupational asbestos exposure, which can cause various types of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Family members of these tradesmen may have been at risk of secondary asbestos exposure.

Occupational Exposure

Employees of Garlock Sealing Technologies may have been exposed to asbestos while manufacturing and assembling asbestos-containing Garlock gaskets and packing materials. Additionally, tradesmen who worked in industrial facilities, railroads, and shipyards may have encountered asbestos exposure during the installation, maintenance, repair, or replacement of Garlock asbestos products.

Despite increased evidence of health risks linked to asbestos exposure, workers were not warned or provided proper protection when handling asbestos Garlock gasket and packing materials.

Occupations at greater risk of Garlock asbestos exposure include:

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Individuals who worked directly with asbestos Garlock gasket 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. Exposure occurred through direct contact with an occupationally exposed person (OEP) covered in asbestos particles or from laundering contaminated clothing.

If you believe your mesothelioma diagnosis is related to secondary exposure, you may be eligible to file a Garlock asbestos trust claim.

Understanding Your Legal Right to Compensation

Filing a Garlock asbestos claim with the GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust requires specific documentation that complies with the Claims Resolution Procedures and filing deadlines.

An asbestos lawyer at ELSM will:

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

With decades of experience handling asbestos trust claims, ELSM Law will guide victims throughout the Garlock claim filing process and is dedicated to helping clients secure the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a Garlock asbestos claim through the GST Settlement Facility Asbestos Trust?

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will review your case and guide you through the mesothelioma claim process, preparing and filing your clam with the Garlock asbestos bankruptcy trust.

Can a family member file a Garlock Asbestos claim?

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

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

The deadline to file a Garlock asbestos claim is governed by the GST Settlement Facility’s Claims Resolution Procedures (CRP) and the applicable state law. Generally, claims must be filed by the latest of the applicable statute of limitations, one year after the effective date of the CRP, or two years from the date of diagnosis, subject to the terms of the CRP. An ELSM Law asbestos attorney will evaluate your case to ensure your claim is filed on time.