Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc. & Asbestos Exposure

Founded in 1925 through the merger of Holt Manufacturing Company and C.L. Best Tractor Co., Caterpillar Inc. quickly rose to become a global leader in heavy machinery. Its signature black-and-yellow equipment is recognizable worldwide, even to those who have never operated it.

The company expanded rapidly, playing a major role in large-scale engineering projects and supporting vital military operations during World War II. In the post-war era, Caterpillar continued its growth, launching its first wave of international expansion in the 1950s.

However, from the 1920s through the 1990s, Caterpillar relied on asbestos-containing components in many of its machines because of the material’s heat resistance and durability. In court, experts have testified that more than 13,000 Caterpillar part numbers correspond to components that contained asbestos.

Today, Caterpillar remains a thriving corporation. In its 2025 third-quarter report, the company reported a 10% increase in sales and revenue, reaching $17.6 billion.

Dangers of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals long valued in manufacturing for their strength, nonconductivity, and remarkable resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals.

All six recognized types of asbestos are toxic and carcinogenic. The minerals break apart into microscopic, durable fibers that easily become airborne when disturbed.

Once inhaled or ingested, these fibers can embed themselves in the body’s tissues, where they may remain for decades. Over time, they can cause irritation, scarring, and genetic damage that may develop into serious, sometimes fatal, illnesses.

Asbestos-related illnesses include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Asbestosis
• Pleural thickening
• Pleural plaques
• Pleural effusions
• Other forms of cancer

Mesothelioma is a particularly rare and deadly cancer that forms in the thin lining around certain organs. It’s expensive to treat, costing patients an average of $400,000 out-of-pocket each year. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.

Financial Compensation from Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc. has never declared bankruptcy and does not have a trust fund to compensate victims of asbestos exposure. Workers and their loved ones injured by Caterpillar’s asbestos products must seek compensation through the court system.

There are two primary types of lawsuits victims can use to hold asbestos companies like Caterpillar accountable:

• Personal injury lawsuit: Allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: Allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Many asbestos victims may be eligible to seek compensation from multiple companies. However, the relationships between asbestos suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers are often complex, making it challenging to identify all responsible parties without professional guidance.

An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help trace these connections and determine every company that may be liable for your exposure.

Victims and loved ones may also be eligible for other forms of financial compensation or assistance, including:

• Benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Asbestos trust funds
• Workers’ compensation
• Treatment grants 

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Caterpillar Inc.

Unlike some asbestos companies, Caterpillar has never been overwhelmed by asbestos litigation, remaining financially stable even in times of recession. Multiple victims have successfully recovered compensation through lawsuits.

George Cooney

George Cooney was awarded $12.5 million by a New York jury in 2014. Mr. Cooney developed lung cancer after working on Caterpillar Inc. forklifts, which used asbestos-containing brakes, clutches, and engine gaskets, from 1969 to 1978.

Betty Estenson

A Washington jury awarded Betty Estenson $4.5 million in a 2015 wrongful death lawsuit. Her husband, Edwin, was a U.S. Navy veteran who died of mesothelioma following exposure to gaskets, brakes, and pipe insulation supplied by Caterpillar. 

Joanne Corazza

Joanne Corazza was initially awarded $1.8 million in a wrongful death lawsuit in New York. However, the verdict was overturned on appeal after Caterpillar successfully argued that there was “insufficient causation evidence” to support her claim.

Pablo González Sr.

The family of Pablo González Sr. sought $19 million in damages following his death from mesothelioma in 2011. 

Mr. González owned a garage where he serviced heavy equipment made by Caterpillar and others, exposing him to asbestos dust from brakes, clutches, and gaskets. However, the court sided with Caterpillar, stating that the victim’s family failed to establish direct causation from Caterpillar products.

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar, like many heavy equipment manufacturers of the 20th century, used asbestos extensively throughout its product lines. Expert testimony in court has indicated that approximately 13,000 distinct Caterpillar part numbers corresponded to asbestos-containing components.

Even beyond those specifically identified in legal records, many Caterpillar machines built before 1990 likely incorporated asbestos parts as a matter of standard practice, particularly equipment used in construction, mining, and industrial operations.

Caterpillar components that likely contained asbestos include:

• Brakes/brake liners
• Clutches
• Gaskets
• Hood liners
• Replacement parts (provided for aftermarket repairs)

Occupations At-Risk

Caterpillar Inc. produced heavy machinery for agricultural, military, construction, and industrial use. Over roughly 70 years, its reliance on asbestos-containing components exposed thousands of workers, and even their family members, to serious health risks across numerous industries.

High-risk occupations include:

• Auto mechanics
• Construction workers
• Demolition workers
• Factory workers
• Heavy equipment mechanics
• Industrial mechanics
• Ironworkers
• Laborers
• Machine operators
• Riggers
• U.S. military veterans
• Warehouse workers

Beyond those who worked directly with asbestos-containing products, many others faced significant danger from secondary exposure.

Family members and loved ones were often exposed at home when asbestos fibers clung to a worker’s hair, skin, clothing, or tools. This “take-home” exposure can be just as hazardous and has led to many severe asbestos-related illnesses.

Get Help Today 

Hundreds of companies, including Caterpillar Inc., used asbestos or asbestos-containing components throughout much of the 20th century. Many failed to warn workers or consumers about the dangers, resulting in widespread exposure to a toxic, cancer-causing material.

If you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos through Caterpillar or another manufacturer, you may have legal options. The Mesothelioma Fund, together with our legal partners at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, offers complimentary consultations to help individuals understand their eligibility and learn more about potential claims.

By working with Meirowitz & Wasserberg, you gain access to a team with extensive experience, resources, and a deep understanding of asbestos litigation. Reach out today to speak with an experienced professional at no cost and explore the next steps available to you.

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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