Kentile Asbestos Trust Fund, Exposure & Compensation

Kentile Floors, Inc. was a leading manufacturer of asphalt, cork, rubber, and vinyl tiles. The company produced certain vinyl and asphalt tiles with asbestos fibers for durability.

After facing numerous asbestos lawsuits, Kentile filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and emerged as Metex Manufacturing Corporation. which assumed Kentile’s asbestos liabilities. Metex later filed for bankruptcy again and created the Metex Asbestos PI Trust to compensate victims exposed to Kentile asbestos floor tiles.

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

Kentile Asbestos Trust At a Glance

• The Metex Asbestos PI Trust was established in 2014 and has funds remaining to pay eligible claimants.
• To file a Kentile asbestos trust claim, the victim must be diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease and prove Kentile is responsible for the exposure.
• Kentile asbestos exposure may have occurred through use of Kentile vinyl asbestos floor tiles and other Kentile flooring products on the job or during home renovations.
• ELSM Law asbestos lawyers will review your case to determine your eligibility and file a Kentile asbestos claim on your behalf.

Understanding the Metex Asbestos PI Trust Fund

In 1992, Kentile Floors, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in response to several asbestos lawsuits filed against the company. Kentile emerged from bankruptcy in 1998 and reorganized as Metex Manufacturing Corporation, which assumed Kentile’s asbestos liabilities.

Metex Manufacturing Corporation later filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a second time, with its plan of reorganization confirmed on December 23, 2013. As part of that reorganization, the Metex Asbestos PI Trust was officially established in 2014 to resolve both existing and future asbestos claims related to Kentile asbestos floor tiles.

This asbestos trust fund began accepting asbestos claims on March 9, 2015 through the claims-processing arrangements with MFR Claims Processing, Inc. Verus Claims Service, LLC subsequently acquired MFR’s claims-processing business and continues to handle Kentile asbestos claims today.

In 2024, the Metex Asbestos PI Trust:

• Paid over 395 claims.
• Received over 3,210 personal injury claims.
• Paid approximately $3.047 million to asbestos victims in claim settlements.
• Reported over $541,000 in settled but unpaid claims.
• Reported approximately $99.77 million in total assets.

Metex Asbestos PI Trust Payment Percentage

The Metex Asbestos PI Trust will compensate asbestos victims exposed to Kentile asbestos floor tiles based on the payment percentage system that is designed to preserve money for future claims. The current Metex Asbestos PI Trust payment percentage is 7.25%. At a payment percentage of 7.25%, a Kentile mesothelioma claim filed under the expedited review process can be expected to receive the standard scheduled value payment of $9,788.

Determining Review Process for Kentile Claims

When filing a Kentile asbestos trust claim, an experienced asbestos lawyer will review the victim’s exposure, medical, and personal records to determine the appropriate 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 complies with the Trust Distribution Procedures and qualifies for the standard value payment percentage.
• Individual Review (IR): An IR claim receives a thorough evaluation of the claimant’s exposure, medical records, and other personal information to determine the individual liquidated value of the claim. Certain exposure and medical circumstances require IR filing.

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

Kentile’s Role in Asbestos Exposure

Kentile Floors, Inc., founded in 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, became a major U.S. manufacturer of resilient flooring products, including asphalt and vinyl floor tiles that were widely used throughout the twentieth century. Many of these floor tiles contained asbestos, a material commonly used at the time.

Exposure to asbestos-containing Kentile floor tiles posed significant long-term health risks to workers involved in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and removal. When these materials were cut, sanded, snapped, or damaged, airborne asbestos fibers were released and could be inhaled, increasing the risk of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

As public awareness of asbestos-related illnesses increased, Kentile became the subject of widespread asbestos litigation, ultimately leading to bankruptcy and the creation of an asbestos trust to compensate individuals harmed by exposure to its products.

Key events in Kentile’s asbestos history include:

• 1950s-1980s: Kentile manufactured asphalt tiles and vinyl floor tile products with asbestos.
• Late 1980s-early 1990s: Kentile Floors faced tens of thousands of asbestos claims related to exposure from its flooring products.
• 1992: After facing significant asbestos liabilities and related financial burdens, Kentile Floors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
• 1998: Kentile emerged from bankruptcy and reorganized as Metex Manufacturing Corporation, which assumed Kentile’s asbestos liabilities.
• 2010: In the high-profile Harrell case, a California jury awarded nearly $1.6 million to the plaintiff after finding multiple defendants, including Kentile Floors, liable for asbestos-related injury. Kentile was assigned 6% of the total verdict for its contribution to the plaintiff’s asbestos exposure from flooring products.
• 2012-2013: Metex Manufacturing Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with its reorganization plan later confirmed in 2013 to create an asbestos trust.
• 2014: The Metex Asbestos PI Trust was officially established to process and pay all current and future asbestos-related claims filed against Kentile Floors.

Kentile Asbestos Products

Between 1907-1986, Kentile manufactured and sold a variety of flooring products. Starting in the late 1940s, the company began producing certain floor tiles using asbestos fibers to improve durability and heat resistance. Some Kentile floor tiles were composed of approximately 75% filler and 25% binder, with about 10-15% of the total product containing chrysotile asbestos.

Kentile vinyl asbestos floor tiles were manufactured and sold from the 1950s through the 1980s for use in residential and commercial buildings. This popular flooring was installed by professional contractors as well as homeowners.

Kentile manufactured and sold the following asbestos products:

• Asphalt tile: Asbestos fibers were mixed with asphalt to enhance durability, structural integrity, and resistance to cracking, fire, and moisture.
• Sheet flooring: Resilient flooring that was produced in large, continuous rolls and installed in broad sections. Cutting, sanding, and tearing this flooring released asbestos fibers.
• Vinyl asbestos floor tiles: Flexible and durable tiles commonly installed in homes and commercial buildings. Cutting, snapping or scoring, sanding edges, and removing worn tiles released asbestos fibers.

The following Kentile asbestos products were commonly used:

• Kentile asphalt tiles
• Kentile KenFlex vinyl asbestos floor tiles
• Kentile vinyl asbestos floor tiles
• Kentile vinyl sheet flooring

Who Was Most At-Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Individuals who worked directly with Kentile asbestos tiles were at greater risk of developing different types of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Family members of these workers also faced the risk of secondary exposure.

Occupational Exposure

Kentile employees who directly handled the Kentile asbestos floor tiles, and tradesmen who installed or removed flooring products in commercial and residential settings, were often exposed to asbestos fibers.

Although the health risks associated with asbestos exposure were becoming increasingly documented during this time, tradesmen were not properly warned or provided adequate protection when handling Kentile asbestos tiles.

Occupations at greater risk of Kentile asbestos exposure include:

Home Renovation Exposure

Homeowners and workers performing remodeling in residential homes were often exposed to Kentile asbestos floor tiles. Cutting, installing, and removing asbestos floor tiles released asbestos fibers, which could be inhaled by workers.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Individuals who worked directly with Kentile asbestos floor tiles and vinyl sheet flooring 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 from close 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 Kentile Asbestos Trust claim.

Understanding Your Legal Right to Compensation

Filing a Kentile asbestos claim with the Metex 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 assess your Kentile asbestos claim eligibility.
• Collect your employment history to identify Kentile asbestos product use.
• Connect your exposure to known kentile asbestos floor tile work or obtain written testimony confirming Kentile vinyl asbestos floor tile exposure.
• File your Kentile asbestos claim correctly with the required documentation.
• Monitor Kentile asbestos claim status and contact the Trust administrators to ensure timely progress.

With decades of experience managing asbestos trust claims, ELSM Law has the knowledge to guide asbestos victims through the 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 Kentile claim through the Metex Asbestos PI Trust?

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

Can a family member file a Kentile Asbestos claim?

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

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

An ELSM Law asbestos lawyer will review your case to determine the appropriate review process to select when filing a Kentile asbestos claim. A mesothelioma claim could receive a settlement between $9,788 and $23,925 based on the current Kentile flooring asbestos Trust payment percentage.

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

The deadline to file a Kentile asbestos claim is set by the Metex Asbestos PI Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP) and state law. Individuals diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness after the bankruptcy filing must generally file their claim within three years of the diagnosis or within three years of the Trust’s Initial Filing Date of September 9, 2015, whichever is later. An ELSM Law asbestos attorney will review your case and determine the correct filing deadline to ensure your claim is submitted within the applicable statute of limitations.