Harbison-Walker Asbestos Trust Fund, Exposure & Compensation

Harbison-Walker Refractories Company manufactured refractory materials used for industrial equipment. Many of these products were made with asbestos to withstand extremely high temperatures.

After facing several Harbison-Walker asbestos lawsuits, the company filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust fund was established to compensate asbestos victims diagnosed with mesothelioma or other lung diseases from exposure to Harbison-Walker asbestos products.

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If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease after exposure to Harbison-Walker products, an ELSM asbestos lawyer can determine your eligibility and help you file a Harbison-Walker asbestos trust claim.

Harbison-Walker Asbestos Trust At a Glance

• The DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust has paid approximately $1.98 billion to asbestos victims through Harbison-Walker and Halliburton claim settlements with funds remaining.
• To file a Harbison-Walker asbestos trust claim, the victim must be diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease and link the exposure to Harbison-Walker products.
• Harbison-Walker asbestos exposure may have occurred through use of refractory products in industrial settings.
• ELSM Law asbestos lawyers can determine your eligibility, collect the required documents, and file your Harbison-Walker asbestos claim.

Understanding the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust Fund

In 2002, Harbison-Walker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to several asbestos lawsuits. The Halliburton Company shared liability for Harbison-Walker asbestos claims. They reached a settlement agreement to resolve asbestos claims and to protect against further liability by funding $5.1 billion to these asbestos trust funds.

On January 20, 2005, the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust was created on behalf of Harbison-Walker Refractories Company, Halliburton Company, Dresser Industries, Inc, and Kellogg Brown and Root, Inc. to compensate victims who were exposed to Harbison-Walker products and began accepting claims.

The Trust accepts and processes claims for clients who were exposed to Harbison-Walker asbestos products. The Delaware Claims Processing Facility, LLC continues to handle these Harbison-Walker asbestos claims today.

In 2024, the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust:

• Paid over 3,280 Harbison-Walker claims.
• Paid approximately $63.2 million in Harbison-Walker claims.
• Reported over $2.167 million in settled but unpaid Harbison-Walker and Halliburton claims.
• Reported approximately $1.32 billion in total assets remaining to pay Harbison-Walker and Halliburton claims.

DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust Payment Percentage

The DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust will compensate asbestos victims based on the payment percentage system that is designed to preserve money for future claims. The current payment percentage is 60% for the Trust. At a payment percentage of 60%, a Harbison-Walker mesothelioma claim filed under the expedited review process can be expected to receive the minimum standard scheduled value payment of $81,900.

Determining Review Process for Harbison-Walker Claims

When filing a Harbison-Walker asbestos trust claim, an experienced asbestos lawyer will review the victim’s exposure history, medical records, and personal information to determine which filing process will secure the maximum compensation.

Two claim review options are:

• Expedited Review (ER): The trust reviews the claim to confirm whether it complies with the Trust Distribution Procedures and qualifies for the standard value payment percentage.
• Individual Review (IR): The trust will evaluate the claimant’s exposure, medical records, and other personal information to determine the individual liquidated value of the claim. This may result in higher compensation for some individuals. Certain lung cancer diagnoses and secondary exposure cases require the IR filing process

An asbestos attorney at ELSM Law will evaluate the claimant’s information and file a mesothelioma claim accurately. Compensation depends on factors such as age, diagnosis, exposure, and the firm’s settlement history.

Harbison-Walker’s Role in Asbestos Exposure

In 1865, the Star Fire Brick Company was founded and later changed to Harbison-Walker Refractories Company. For decades, the company manufactured industrial materials using asbestos to withstand high temperatures because of its insulation, fireproofing, and heat-resistant qualities.

Harbison-Walker did not adequately warn workers and consumers about the health risks associated with asbestos exposure. Although Harbison-Walker eventually discontinued using asbestos in its products, previously manufactured materials remained in use and continued to endanger individuals who used these products.

Key events in Harbison-Walker’s asbestos history include:

• 1967: The Harbison-Walker Refractories Company merged with Dresser Industries, Inc.
• 1970s: Harbison-Walker discontinued using asbestos in its products.
• 1992-2002: Harbison-Walker was named in approximately 132,000 asbestos-related claims and was associated with more than 200,000 total claims involving Dresser Industries, due in part to shared insurance coverage.
• 1998: Halliburton Company acquired Dresser Industries, Inc., and assumed responsibility for asbestos claims connected to Harbison-Walker Refractories Company and Dresser Industries, Inc.
• 2001: A Baltimore jury awarded $40 million in damages to five plaintiffs, including 3 deceased pipefitters, a bricklayer, and the daughter of a pipefitter in a case involving their exposure to asbestos products from Harbison-Walker, A.P. Green Industries, and Armstrong Contracting and Supply, Inc.
• 2002: After several Harbison-Walker asbestos lawsuits, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for reorganization. Since the Halliburton Company shared liability, they reached a settlement agreement to fund an asbestos trust to compensate these current and future asbestos victims.
• 2003: Harbison-Walker merged with A.P. Green Industries and North American Refractories Company (NARCO). The company was referred to as ANH Refractories, until later changing to HarbisonWalker International in 2015.
• 2005: The DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust was established to handle the asbestos liabilities of the debtors, Halliburton Company and certain of its affiliates, including Harbison-Walker Refractories Company, Halliburton Company, Dresser Industries, Inc, and Kellogg Brown and Root, Inc.

Harbison-Walker Asbestos Products

Between the 1950s and the 1970s, Harbison-Walker manufactured products using asbestos for its heat-resistant properties in industrial settings. These products were designed to be used in high-temperature environments, including boilers, furnaces, incinerators, kilns, and other heat systems.

Harbison-Walker manufactured and sold a variety of asbestos products, including:

• Castable Refractory: A cement-like material that comes in pre-mix or dry powder and was used to line, insulate, or repair industrial furnaces, boilers, incinerators, and other high-heat equipment.
• Insulating Cement: High-temperature, lightweight materials used for thermal insulation on industrial equipment.
• Metalkase Firebrick: Refractory bricks encased in a metal shell, mechanically fastened, and designed to withstand extreme heat and thermal shock for high-durability in industrial heat systems.
• Millboard: Rigid, flat asbestos sheets used primarily for high-temperature insulation and fireproofing inside furnaces and boilers in industrial and construction settings.
• Refractory Cement: A type of refractory used to bond, coat, seal, or insulate high-temperature equipment.
• Rollboard: A flexible, high temperature insulating board used for thermal insulation in boilers, furnaces, and other heat systems.
• Rope: A high-temperature seal and insulation material that was packed into boiler and furnace doors, wrapped around pipes, or placed in joints or seams.

The following Harbison-Walker asbestos products were commonly used:

Who Was Most At-Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Exposure to Harbison-Walker asbestos products affected Harbison-Walker employees, Navy service members and shipyard workers, and other tradesmen who worked directly with refractory products in high-heat industrial settings. Family members of individuals who used these products were also at risk of secondary exposure.

Occupational Exposure

Many workers in different trades were regularly exposed to Harbison-Walker asbestos refractory products, putting them at the greatest risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Despite growing evidence of the health risks associated with asbestos exposure, tradesmen were not properly warned or provided adequate protection.

Occupations at greater risk of Harbison-Walker asbestos exposure include:

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Workers who were exposed to Harbison-Walker asbestos products unknowingly put family members at risk of secondary asbestos exposure when they carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, shoes, and in their hair. This exposure occurred through close contact or while handling and washing contaminated work clothes.

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

Understanding Your Legal Right to Compensation

Filing a Harbison-Walker claim with the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI 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 confirm your Harbison-Walker asbestos claim eligibility.
• Collect your work history to identify approved asbestos exposure sites.
• Connect your job sites to known Harbison-Walker product exposure or obtain written testimony confirming Harbison-Walker product exposure.
• File your claim correctly with the required documentation.
• Track claim status and contact the trust to ensure timely progress

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a Harbison-Walker claim through the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust?

An ELSM asbestos attorney will review your case and guide you through the mesothelioma claim process. They will prepare and submit the completed Harbison-Walker claim form, along with all necessary exposure, medical, and other personal documentation that is required.

Can a family member file a Harbison-Walker Asbestos claim?

Yes, family members can file mesothelioma claims after death on behalf of a loved one. Additionally, family members who have experienced secondary asbestos exposure and were diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer may qualify to file a Harbison-Walker claim.

How much compensation can I receive through the Harbison-Walker Asbestos Trust?

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will review your case to determine the appropriate review process to select when filing a Harbison-Walker asbestos claim. A mesothelioma claim could receive a Harbison-Walker asbestos settlement between $81,900 and $366,000 based on the current DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust payment percentage.

How long do I have to file a Harbison-Walker claim with the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust?

The deadline to file a Harbison-Walker asbestos claim varies by state. Generally, claims must be submitted within 3 years from the date of diagnosis or within 3 years from the Trust’s Claims Acceptance Date. If you filed a lawsuit against Harbison-Walker before the company filed for bankruptcy in 2002, your claim must follow the statute of limitations that applied at the time you filed in the tort system. An asbestos lawyer can help determine the correct statute of limitations and ensure your claim is filed on time.