Eagle-Picher Industries Asbestos Trust

 Eagle-Picher Industries used asbestos to manufacture a variety of products, such as insulating cement, weatherproof coatings, pipe coverings, mineral wool, block insulation, and more, until the mid-1970s. 

Despite knowing the dangers of asbestos, Eagle-Picher Industries exposed employees, their families, and end users of its products — including U.S. Navy veterans and workers in shipyards, power plants, steel mills, and petrochemical plants — to high levels of the toxic mineral. 

Many of those exposed have since developed serious asbestos-related illnesses like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Fill out the form below to see if you may qualify for compensation from the Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. Personal Injury Settlement Trust.

Eagle-Picher Industries History of Asbestos Exposure

Eagle-Picher Industries can trace its origins to 1916 when Eagle White Lead Works and Picher Lead Company merged to create a company that produced storage batteries, used to collect and store energy for later use.

The company used mined zinc and diatomaceous earth to make the batteries that became integral to the U.S. efforts during World War II.

By 1938, Eagle-Picher expanded its product offerings to include asbestos-containing insulating cement, pipe coverings and block insulation. About the same time, health officials nationwide were publicizing information about the dangers of asbestos.

Court records show the U.S. Bureau of Mines told Eagle-Picher officials directly that asbestos was “one of the most dangerous dusts to which man is exposed.”

Key information about Eagle-Picher:

• Compensation: Employees and loved ones affected by Eagle-Picher asbestos exposure may be eligible to pursue multiple forms of compensation.
• Products: Eagle-Picher manufactured a wide variety of asbestos-containing construction materials, including cement, weatherproof coatings, pipe coverings, mineral wool, and block insulation.
• Occupations: The company’s broad range of products exposed its own employees, plus factory workers, shipbuilders, U.S. Navy veterans, and many other professions to asbestos.
• Get Help Today: Determining if you qualify for compensation is easy. Contact us today for a complimentary case evaluation.

Eagle-Picher Asbestos Lawsuits

Eagle-Picher did not stop using asbestos in its products until the 1970s. In the early 1980s, the company established a $45 million fund to pay out asbestos claims, but it was not enough to keep pace with the tidal wave of litigation.

By 1991, the year the company filed for its first Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, Eagle-Picher faced more than $2.5 billion in asbestos claims. The trust began accepting claims in 1997.

In 2005, Eagle-Picher again faced more financial responsibilities than it could handle related to its asbestos use. The company filed for bankruptcy protection for a second time to manage the more than $500 million in additional asbestos-related debt.

Currently, Eagle-Picher’s asbestos trust pays claimants 35% of the settlement value, which is much higher than other funds of equal size. Like other asbestos trusts, Eagle-Picher applies this payment percentage to ensure that enough funds remain to compensate all current and future claimants. 

For example, a mesothelioma claim valued at $6,500 would be paid out as $2,275 after applying the payment percentage.

Eagle-Picher Industries Today

While Eagle-Picher is still operating and in production today, all products are currently asbestos-free.

Eagle-Picher and Asbestos Exposure

Eagle-Picher primarily used asbestos as an additive to its products to increase the heat, chemical and fire resistance and tensile strength.

According to the Eagle-Picher Industries Settlement Trust, nearly 7,000 companies have used Eagle-Picher asbestos-containing products.

Several of the company’s former plant locations are now Superfund sites. These sites, located in New Mexico, Illinois and Oklahoma, have been found to have high levels of hazardous waste that have contaminated the ground. Among the many environmental toxins on the properties is asbestos.

High-Risk Occupations Associated With Eagle-Picher

As Eagle-Picher grew and diversified its product lines, so did the use of asbestos in its plants and products. The company manufactured specialty chemicals, construction materials, automotive parts, and industrial products.

The diversified product line increased the risk for asbestos exposure across a multitude of occupations. Eagle-Picher’s products were also widely used in military applications, particularly in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Occupations associated with Eagle-Picher asbestos exposure include:

Other at-risk occupations include:

• Insulators
• Roofers
• Bricklayers
• Drywall Installers
• Railroad Workers

Asbestos Products Used at Eagle-Picher Industries

Eagle-Picher’s asbestos-containing products have been used in a variety of industries. The company was once the second largest supplier of lead and zinc products in the nation.

The following are considered among the most dangerous of the company’s asbestos-containing products:

Insulating Cement

Eagle-Picher produced several cement products that contain asbestos. The dry powders were mixed with water to form a paste.

Some of the brands include:

• Super 66 Insulating Cement
• One-Cote Insulating Cement
• Hylo Finishing Cement
  • (Manufactured by Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. but distributed by Eagle-Picher)

Pipe Coverings

Eagle-Picher Pipe Covering and Hylo Pipe Covering were used to insulate pipes that carried liquids, gases and chemicals through machinery, homes and cities.

The coverings were typically installed in high heat or extreme cold conditions to protect the pipes from damage.

Block Insulation

Hylo Block and Supertemp Block were among the two block insulations developed and manufactured by Eagle-Picher.

The company advertised Supertemp to withstand temperatures up to 1900 degrees Fahrenheit and to contain 10 to 15 percent asbestos.

Weatherproof Coating

Sold under the name Insulseal, Stalastic, Spray-Mastic and Swetchek “B”, these liquid coatings were sold by the gallon or by the 55-gallon drum. Insulseal was made from petroleum, asphalt and asbestos, among other materials.

Other Eagle-Picher asbestos-containing products included Air Cell Type Low Pressure Covering, Fire & Water Resisting Jacketing, Triple-Slide Windows, house paints and mineral wool.

Eagle Picher Payouts

Asbestos trust funds can provide claimants with the essential funds they need for treatment and living expenses.

Claimants who choose cash payments from trust funds usually gain access to their mesothelioma lawsuit settlement quickly.

Eagle-Picher pays cash claims, which are also known as discounted cash payments or DCPs, as follows:

Eagle-Picher claimants who choose individual reviews, also called individualized review claims or IRCs, usually receive larger settlements over DCPs, but the process takes longer.

Eagle-Picher trust administrators base IRC settlements on factors that include an evaluation of exposure, loss, damages, injuries and other factors.

If the claimant’s financial burden due to the asbestos-related disease is “exceptionally larger than the normal range,” the claimant might receive an Eagle-Picher IRC settlement that exceeds the average settlement for asbestos claims.

Get Help Today

A diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma can feel sudden and overwhelming, forcing individuals and families to deal with serious health issues, mounting medical bills, and lost income. In many cases, these unfair burdens are the result of long-term exposure to asbestos in the workplace, exposure that could have been avoided.

Eagle-Picher, as a major manufacturer and distributor of asbestos-containing products used across numerous industries and job sites, contributed to this widespread risk. Despite being aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure, companies like Eagle-Picher failed to warn workers and the public, prioritizing profits over safety.

Our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, helps victims hold negligent companies accountable, leveraging their experience and resources to pursue maximum compensation.

We understand how stressful this time can be, which is why we provide compassionate, personalized support throughout your case. Your claim deserves the focused care of a firm that prioritizes your well-being. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and take the first step toward justice.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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