DeLaval

Highest-Risk Occupations

DeLaval exposed its own employees to significant occupational asbestos exposure, but also jeopardized the health of thousands of others.

These individuals, whose work involved handling, repairing, installing, and maintaining DeLaval products and the asbestos components they needed to function, were also put at risk for asbestos-related diseases.

Who is At Highest Risk for Exposure?

Many individuals who regularly encountered DeLaval’s asbestos-containing pumps, turbines, and compressors worked in poorly ventilated areas without protective equipment, increasing the risk of asbestos exposure.   

Machinists

Machinists encountered asbestos while working on DeLaval steam turbines. Asbestos-containing gaskets, insulation, and packing used in the turbines released particles during routine maintenance and repair.

Inhaling these particles can cause serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, decades after exposure. 

Shipyard Workers

Shipyards are high-risk work sites because of the many ship components that contain asbestos. DeLaval’s marine pumps contributed to these risks, endangering the workers who installed and serviced them.

Asbestos particles can remain airborne for hours, endangering anyone in the vicinity, not just those who directly handled asbestos products. 

U.S. Navy Veterans

For decades, the U.S. Military required its suppliers to include asbestos in key components because of its heat- and fire-resistant properties. DeLaval was one of these suppliers, providing Naval vessels with critical equipment.

Service members who worked in boiler or engine rooms may have encountered DeLaval asbestos-containing products.   

Family Members Exposed Secondhand

Secondhand or “take-home” exposure can also cause severe asbestos illnesses. Family members injured by secondary exposure may be eligible to recover compensation through personal injury lawsuits.

Wrongful death lawsuits provide compensation for surviving family members who have lost a loved one to asbestos-related diseases.

DeLaval Asbestos Products

Asbestos is durable and naturally resistant to heat, fire, and chemical corrosion. DeLaval’s steam turbines, pumps, and compressors had to handle high heat and constant friction, making asbestos a valuable additive that the company relied on for roughly 30 years.

DeLaval sold its products to the U.S. Navy, civilian shipbuilding operations, power plants, industrial operations, and more.

Despite growing evidence of the serious health and environmental hazards associated with asbestos use, product catalogs from DeLaval confirm the widespread use of asbestos in its products up until the 1960s.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Centrifugal pump packaging
• DeLaval Main Feed Booster Pump
• High-speed equipment components
• Steam turbine insulation
• Various pump and compressor parts

Securing Compensation From DeLaval

DeLaval manufactured and sold its asbestos-containing products to a broad range of industrial and military clients, endangering thousands of employees, end users, and military service members.

If you or a loved one worked with DeLaval’s products and developed an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible to pursue legal compensation.

Given the extensive historical use of asbestos, many victims have the right to pursue claims against more than one manufacturer. Some people may also be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as VA benefits or workers’ compensation.

We can help you determine your eligibility and learn more about your compensation options for free.

Over 7,000 asbestos claims have been filed against DeLaval and IMO Industries. Historically, the company has settled these claims out of court for undisclosed sums.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

DeLaval has not filed for bankruptcy and does not maintain an asbestos trust fund. Instead, the company addresses its asbestos-related responsibilities through lawsuits and insurance.

Individuals affected by asbestos exposure generally have two main legal options to pursue financial recovery:

• Personal injury lawsuit: This type of case allows individuals diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness to claim compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other related damages.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: If an asbestos victim has passed away, surviving family members or dependents can file this type of suit to seek damages for their loss.

The majority of asbestos claims don’t go to trial. Most are settled out of court, often for undisclosed amounts. While trial verdicts can be very lucrative for successful claimants, the trial process can be long and stressful.

Settlements offer claimants a relatively quick, stable, and low-stress route to compensation.

Key Requirements to File

• Diagnosis: Claimants must have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis) OR proof of a wrongful death from an asbestos-related illness. 
• Proof of exposure: Documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from DeLaval through employment or use of their products. 
• Statute of limitations: Potential claimants have a limited time to file a claim. Deadlines vary by state, with most averaging just 2 to 3 years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against DeLaval

DeLaval, now known as IMO Industries, has faced over 7,000 asbestos claims. Court records show that before 1986, the company spent about $33 million handling these claims. By 2014, just one of its insurers had paid the company $72 million to cover asbestos liabilities and losses. 

The company does its best to avoid the expense and publicity of trials, frequently seeking summary judgments to have claims dismissed and settling viable claims out of court. 

When claims do go to trial, a favorite strategy is the bare-metal defense, in which the defendant company argues that it is not liable for injuries caused by asbestos-containing replacement parts manufactured by others.

Fighting back against major asbestos manufacturers and their legal teams can feel overwhelming if you’re trying to do it alone, but expert legal help is available. If you or a member of your family was injured due to DeLaval asbestos exposure, you can contact us today to get a free case assessment. 

Asbestos Insurance Litigation

Some of DeLaval’s most public legal battles over its asbestos use have been with its own insurers, including cases against Transamerica Corporation and TIG Insurance Company.  

Although these cases are not directly involved in specific personal injury claims, they have been pivotal in determining insurance coverage for thousands of asbestos-related personal injury claims against DeLaval and its successor, IMO Industries, Inc.

In one case against Transamerica Corporation, IMO sought to prove that it had purchased insurance policies totaling $1.85 billion, intended to cover both payouts to claimants (indemnification) and ongoing legal costs (defense costs) associated with asbestos litigation.

IMO initiated this litigation to enforce and clarify its rights, particularly regarding policies that explicitly stated defense costs would be paid “outside the limits,” meaning that the insurer would cover legal defense expenses in addition to the policy’s indemnity limits, a prospect their insurers resisted, given the company’s multi-million dollar liabilities.

DeLaval’s Involvement With Asbestos

Founded in 1890 in Stockholm, Sweden, DeLaval rapidly expanded internationally. The company opened its first American factory in 1901 and quickly gained recognition as a top manufacturer of turbines, pumps, gears, compressors, and other high-speed equipment.

DeLaval became a major supplier to the U.S. Navy during World War I, a relationship it maintained until the 1950s. During much of this period, from the 1930s to the 1960s, the company incorporated asbestos as an additive to enhance the durability and heat- and fire-resistance of the majority of its products.  

The company began facing financial challenges in the 1960s due to a decline in shipbuilding demand. The growing awareness of and litigation surrounding the dangers of asbestos and DeLaval’s knowing and negligent use of it worsened the company’s financial troubles. 

These difficulties led to a series of acquisitions and rebrands in the latter half of the 20th century. DeLaval is now known as IMO Industries, Inc. II Acquisition Corporation purchased it in 1997. It is still named in asbestos lawsuits today. 

Contact Us For a Free Case Assessment

Negligent asbestos companies like DeLaval should be held responsible for the harm they’ve caused. Despite knowing the severe health risks associated with asbestos, including diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, they continued to use it, failing to warn workers and consumers about the dangers. 

This negligence has resulted in countless victims suffering preventable illnesses. For those affected, the consequences extend far beyond physical pain. Patients and their families often endure overwhelming emotional strain and face significant financial burdens due to medical costs and lost income.

Our trusted legal partners have decades of collective experience guiding victims through the complexities of asbestos lawsuits. With the right legal support, pursuing an asbestos claim can be straightforward and far less stressful, giving victims the best chance to maximize their potential compensation.

We can help you determine your eligibility and learn more about your case for free. If you or a loved one has developed an asbestos-related illness and wants to seek justice and financial relief, contact us today for a complimentary consultation.

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.

Learn More