General Motors (GM) Asbestos Trust

General Motors (GM) is the largest automobile manufacturer in the U.S. and manufactured, sold, and installed asbestos products until the 1980s.

Due to the widespread use of asbestos around the country, thousands of employees, auto mechanics, factory workers, and consumers were put at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Individuals who were exposed to asbestos from General Motors products — or their loved ones — may be eligible to collect compensation from the MLC Asbestos Trust Fund to help cover treatment costs, lost wages, and more. Fill out the form below to learn if you may be eligible for compensation.

Key Information About General Motors:

• Compensation: Workers and their family members impacted by General Motors asbestos exposure may be eligible for multiple forms of compensation.
• Products: General Motors clutch and brake systems included asbestos components until the 1980s.
• Occupations: Those at risk include General Motors employees and their families, factory workers, auto mechanics, and anyone who worked closely with the company’s products.
• Get Help Today: Contact the Mesothelioma Fund for a free consultation to determine if you may be eligible for compensation from General Motors.

General Motors & Asbestos Exposure

Formed in 1903, General Motors quickly grew into a multinational conglomerate, manufacturing cars, components for trains, ships, and aircraft, and defense materials for wartime use.

Regardless of the application, numerous GM products included asbestos due to the mineral’s heat- and friction-resistant properties.

Tragically, the company consistently failed to warn employees and consumers about the associated health risks. Examples of negligence include:

• A 1930s internal survey recommended improved ventilation in high-risk areas. GM failed to install industrial ventilation in some plants until the early 1960s.
• The company’s use of auto parts with high asbestos concentrations necessitated that employees vacuum asbestos dust from shipping containers, bag it, and send it to landfills.
• The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated warnings on brake products in 1986. GM didn’t start following this policy until 1989.
• GM, along with Ford and Chrysler, has paid over $43 million to “experts” who testified in court that the asbestos used in brake shoes and pads was harmless.

Many former GM plants are now environmental hazards, and many former employees are critically ill due to the company’s use of asbestos and other toxins. 

Asbestos Lawsuits Facing General Motors

GM ignored warnings about the dangers of asbestos for decades. Not only did it fail to take adequate precautions in handling a dangerous substance, but it also didn’t warn employees or customers that asbestos was dangerous at all.

GM’s professional negligence left it open to asbestos lawsuits from consumers and former employees. When it declared bankruptcy in 2009, its legal liabilities had become too costly to continue normal business operations. 

• In 2018, GM settled with thousands of individuals exposed to asbestos-containing products in its vehicles. The payout for the GM asbestos settlement was not disclosed, but it was reportedly in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The individuals in the lawsuit included employees, retirees, and family members of those who worked at GM facilities where asbestos was present. 
• New Jersey resident Susan Buttitta won $30.3 million following the death of her husband, Mark, from mesothelioma in 2002. GM was one of the defendants in the case.
• Roland Grenier, a former auto mechanic, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2005. He was awarded $2 million from multiple defendants, including GM.

David Bush

David Bush died of mesothelioma following decades of work as a reliability chemist at General Motors’ Delco Moraine Division in Dayton, Ohio. His widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against multiple asbestos manufacturers, claiming that the brake linings and raw asbestos tested in GM’s laboratory directly contributed to her husband’s death. 

The defendants initially succeeded in having the case dismissed, but Mrs. Bush’s legal team successfully overturned the ruling on appeal, allowing the case to move forward.

Erwin Bergquist

Erwin Bergquist served as a U.S. Navy engine technician from 1951 to 1954. During his work, he was regularly exposed to asbestos components, such as gaskets and insulation, used in General Motors’ diesel engines aboard ships.
Mr. Berquist and his wife filed suit against General Motors and others, seeking compensation. The jury assigned General Motors 65% responsibility for a $2.85 million award.

Those impacted by the company’s asbestos use may have grounds for a GM asbestos lawsuit. Speaking to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help to clarify your options. 

Associated Companies 

General Motors was created in 1903 through the merger of Oldsmobile and Buick. By 1920, GM had acquired more than 30 additional companies, many of which it shut down following the acquisition. 

By 1941, GM accounted for 44% of all domestic auto sales. During WWII, GM turned its attention to the production of defense materials.

Thanks to its highly developed industrial network, it produced everything from ball bearings to tanks, aircraft, naval ships, bombers, cannons, and projectiles. Their wartime production is valued at $12.3 billion.

Many of the products they manufactured contained asbestos, which was broadly used to increase durability and for its flame-, heat-, and chemical-resistant properties.

GM, directly and indirectly, exposed hundreds of thousands of people to asbestos despite being well aware of the mineral’s dangers.

GM remains one of the foremost automobile manufacturers in the U.S. Although the company claims to have stopped using asbestos-containing parts, many older model cars and aftermarket parts may still contain asbestos. 

Companies Associated With General Motors:

• Adam Opel
• Buick
• Cadillac
• Chevrolet
• Daewoo Motor Company
• Electronic Data Systems
• Fiat Auto
• Fisher Body Company
• Fuji Heavy Industries
• General Motors Acceptance Corporation 
• Hughes Aircraft
• Hughes Electronic
• Isuzu Motors
• McLaughlin Motor Company
• Oakland
• Olds Motor Vehicle Company
• Pontiac
• Saab Automobile AB
• Saturn Corporation
• Subaru
• Vauxhall Motors

High-Risk Jobs Associated With General Motors

Because General Motors was at one time the largest vehicle producer in the U.S., its asbestos-contaminated products were spread across many industries, putting countless professionals and hobbyists at risk.

General Motors used asbestos to make products at dozens of manufacturing plants. In fact, GM may be one of the car part manufacturers that still uses asbestos today.

Although the U.S. government banned the final type of asbestos (chrysotile) in 2024, companies still have 12 years to phase it out of their products. 

General Motors used asbestos to make products at dozens of manufacturing plants. In fact, GM may be one of the car part manufacturers that still uses asbestos today. Although the U.S. government banned the final type of asbestos (chrysotile) in 2024, companies still have 12 years to phase it out of their products.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Jobs at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Other At-Risk Jobs

• Aircraft mechanics
• Appliance installers/repair technicians
• Engineers
• Industrial workers
• Machinists
• Machine operators
• Military veterans
• Railway workers
• Shipyard workers

Asbestos Products Used at General Motors

GM continued to use asbestos in its brake and clutch systems until the 1980s despite repeated warnings about health hazards.

They used asbestos to prevent overheating from friction, but the constant wear and tear on these high-stress parts released asbestos fibers into the air, endangering anyone nearby. 

Later, the company purchased several appliance companies, including Frigidaire and Delco-Heat, which also used asbestos.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products Used at General Motors

• AC Delco Brake Pads
• AC Delco Brake Linings
• AC Delco Clutch Disks
• AC Delco Clutch Facings
• AC Delco Clutch Linings
• AC Delco Clutch Pads
• AC Delco Locomotive Brake Shoes
• Disk Breaks
• Drum Breaks
• Engines
• Engine Gaskets
• Insulation
• Oil Pan Gaskets

The Formation of the Motors Liquidation Company Asbestos PI Trust

The MLC Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was created in 2009 to discharge GM’s legal responsibilities to those exposed to asbestos through their factories or products.

The trust recognizes seven asbestos-related illnesses as eligible for compensation. 

The trustees responsible for the daily governance of the MLC Trust review claims, set the payment percentage, and decide on the Maximum Annual Payment (MAP), which is the total amount the trust can pay out in a single year. 

The GM asbestos trust has an 80/20 payment ratio, meaning that 80% of the MAP must go toward compensating those with the most severe asbestos-related illnesses, while only 20% is earmarked for those with less severe conditions.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Settlement and Payment Percentage

To ensure sufficient funds remain available for both current and future claimants, the MLC Trust pays only a percentage of each claim’s full settlement value.

The current payment percentage is 10.3%.

For example, applying this rate to a mesothelioma claim valued at $175,000 would result in a payment of $18,025 from the trust.

The MLC Trust processes claims on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis, making timely filing critical. If the trust reaches its MAP before reviewing your claim, payment may be deferred until the following year.

Claims are reviewed under one of two processes: expedited review or individual review.

Expedited review (ER) follows strict eligibility criteria and offers a fixed, guaranteed payment amount. These claims are typically resolved more quickly, but not all claimants qualify for expedited review.

Individual review (IR) takes longer, as each claim is evaluated on its specific facts. This option allows for a customized payment that may be higher or lower than the scheduled amount available through expedited review.

In addition, the trust categorizes claimants by profession: auto mechanics and all other occupations. Each group receives different average payment amounts.

The table below outlines the average expedited review payments for auto mechanics and other claimants.

Filing Multiple Asbestos Trust Fund Claims Against Related Companies

Many asbestos exposure victims encountered the carcinogen through handling products made or sold by a variety of manufacturers. For this reason, it’s common for victims to qualify for compensation from multiple trust funds. 

If you’re eligible for compensation from the General Motors Asbestos Personal Injury Trust, you may also be able to file with the following automotive-related trusts:

• Raytech (Raybestos)
• Ferodo
• FMP
• Maremont

An asbestos lawyer can help determine which companies’ products you were exposed to and from which avenues you may be able to seek compensation. Contact us now to start this process.

Eligibility Requirements for the General Motors Asbestos Trust

To receive payment from the MLC trust, claimants must first prove eligibility through extensive documentation. Eligibility requirements take two primary forms: medical and exposure.

All claims must be filed within the statute of limitations to be considered. Once the statute of limitations has passed, asbestos companies like GM can no longer be held responsible for their negligence.

An experienced asbestos lawyer may be able to help you meet this crucial deadline if you’re eligible. 

Medical Requirements

The precise medical requirements vary by disease, however, there is some overlap.

Common requirements include:

• A diagnosis of one of the seven scheduled conditions by a physician or pathologist.
• Proof in the form of testing and imaging, including:
  • X-ray
  • CAT scan
  • Pleural testing
  • Pathology report
• Evidence linking the illness to asbestos exposure
• 10-year latency

Exposure Requirements

Claimants must be able to prove significant occupational exposure — as defined by the trust distribution procedures (TDP) — and show six months of exposure to GM asbestos products occurring before December 31, 1982.

Documents commonly used to prove exposure include:

• Affidavits/witness statements
• Construction records
• Employment records
• Insurance records
• Invoices
• Military service records
• Paystubs
• Sales records

Working with an experienced asbestos attorney can help take the stress out of the claims process. A good lawyer may be able to help you navigate these trusts by gathering evidence and documentation, keeping track of important deadlines, and working on your behalf to seek the maximum amount of compensation available.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against General Motors

There are three main steps to filing a claim against GM:

1. Submit a completed proof of claim (POC) form with all required documentation.
   • Claims can be filed my mail or online
2. During the review process, monitor the status of your claim. Any deficiencies discovered by the trust must be remedied before a claim can be liquidated.
3. If the claim is approved, a release form will be generated and sent to the claimant for completion.
   • The release form must be completed and submitted before the claim is liquidated and funds are released to the claimant.

Claims resolution can be a long and challenging process. The documentation requirements are stringent and finding evidence can be grueling. Working with a lawyer who specializes in asbestos cases may help streamline the process.

Loved Ones & Family Members 

Often, the direct victims of asbestos exposure are too ill to manage the claims process on their own. In many cases, they may have passed away before the claims process can begin.

If your loved one or family member is suffering or has died from an asbestos-related condition caused by GM, an experienced asbestos lawyer can help you figure out what your next steps should be. 

A reputable lawyer may be able to help you hold asbestos companies responsible for their negligence, potentially giving you and your family access to much-needed funding while allowing you the time and space you need to heal.

We may be able to help you start the claim filing process today.

Reach out to us today to learn more.

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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