Pneumo Abex LLC

Highest-Risk Occupations

Pneumo Abex used asbestos in its products and facilities for roughly 60 years. It sold its friction products, hydraulic systems, and more to car manufacturers, railroad companies, aerospace companies, and industrial interests, creating an exposure footprint that extends far beyond its own employees. 

Despite access to medical evidence that asbestos was hazardous, Pneumo Abex failed to warn employees and end users about the potential dangers.

Additionally, the company has faced accusations of conspiring with Johns-Manville and other asbestos manufacturers to actively hide the dangers of asbestos and assert that it was safe. 

Who is At Highest Risk for Exposure?

Any asbestos exposure, no matter how brief, can be dangerous. However, the people with the highest risks of developing an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma or lung cancer are those with consistent, close occupational exposure. 

Factory Worker

Pneumo Abex factory workers were exposed to asbestos through the products they made and also the facilities they worked in.

Like many manufacturers, the company used asbestos products and materials, including insulation, boilers, and furnaces, in its plants and foundries for fireproofing and heat resistance.  

Auto Mechanic

Pneumo Abex sold its automobile brake and clutch parts directly to car manufacturers and as replacement parts through commercial distributors.

Auto mechanics were exposed to asbestos dust when working on cars fitted with these products, particularly when removing old, worn products and replacing them. 

Railroad Mechanic

Pneumo Abex was the leading supplier of metallic brake shoes for railroad applications. Unfortunately, these and other railroad components often contained asbestos.

When under stress and friction, asbestos parts can shed particles, putting anyone who handles them or works near them at risk. 

Family Members Exposed Secondhand

Asbestos particles often adhered to workers’ clothing, potentially exposing their loved ones to serious illness through contact during household chores like laundry.

People harmed by this secondary exposure may be eligible to file personal injury claims. People who’ve lost someone to an asbestos-related illness may qualify for wrongful death compensation.

Pneumo Abex Asbestos Products

Pneumo Abex was formed from the merger of two asbestos companies, Abex Corporation and Pneumo Corporation.

Abex specialized in asbestos-containing friction products, which it sold for commercial and industrial use. The company incorporated asbestos in its products because of its durability and resistance to heat and fire. 

Abex also used asbestos in its facilities. Abex manufacturing plants and foundries used asbestos-containing insulation, boiler systems, and furnaces.

The Abex brass and bronze foundry in Portsmouth, Virginia, which operated from 1928 to 1978, is now an EPA Superfund site due to lingering toxic impacts from asbestos and other chemicals.

Pneumo Corporation was an industrial company with ties to the aerospace, food processing, and pharmaceutical industries. Following the merger, the newly minted Pneumo Abex Corporation focused on aerospace and industrial products.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

Products manufactured:

• Aircraft control systems
• Brakes
• Brake blocks
• Brake linings
• Brake pads
• Brake shoes
• Clutch facings
• Fluid power systems
• Hydraulic systems
• Railroad car components

Products used in facilities:

• Boilers
• Furnaces
• Insulation

Securing Compensation From Pneumo Abex

Pneumo Abex has been through a complex series of acquisitions, mergers, divestments, and bankruptcies. Because of these changes, multiple companies share some liability for Pneumo Abex’s negligent use of asbestos. 

If you or a loved one worked with Pneumo Abex products or in one of its facilities and has developed an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation.

Unlike many asbestos manufacturers, depending on the details of your claim, you may be able to pursue compensation through the Pneumo Abex Asbestos Trust or through a lawsuit.

Additionally, many individuals who are eligible for compensation from Pneumo Abex may 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 options for free. Contact us today.

Asbestos injury victims and their loved ones have a limited amount of time to seek compensation. The statute of limitations varies by state, but in most cases, people have 2 to 3 years from the date of diagnosis or death to file their claim. Once the deadline has passed, so has the compensation opportunity.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Trust Fund Claims

Most of the complications surrounding the Pneumo Abex Asbestos Trust stem from its relationships with three primary companies:

• Federal-Mogul
• Cooper Industries
• PCT International Holdings Inc.

Both Federal-Mogul and Cooper have historical ownership ties to Pneumo Abex, while PCT is its current parent company.

When Federal-Mogul filed for bankruptcy in 2001, it established a standard 524(g) asbestos trust with three subfunds. The FMP subfund handled liabilities connected to Pneumo Abex. However, Federal-Mogul wanted the other companies with Pneumo Abex liability to contribute to compensating victims.

After years of negotiations, Cooper and PCT agreed to pay $307.5 million and $5 million, respectively, into the settlement trust, and the Pneumo Abex Asbestos Claims Settlement Trust was established in 2011. However, since two of the companies responsible for the trust are still solvent, the trust is non-standard.

Most asbestos bankruptcy trusts include a channeling injunction, which shields the company from lawsuits. The Pneumo Abex Asbestos Trust does not have a channeling injunction, meaning victims can and do still file lawsuits against Pneumo Abex LLC. 

Filing a Lawsuit

Although Federal-Mogul has declared bankruptcy, the current parent company of Pneumo Abex LLC has not. PCT International Holdings, Inc. is solvent, meaning asbestos claimants can file lawsuits against it to seek compensation for their injuries.

There are two primary types of lawsuits most claimants use when pursuing compensation against Pneumo Abex LLC:

• 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.

Most asbestos claims never go to trial. The vast majority are settled out of court, a process that allows the plaintiff and the defendant to broker a deal that satisfies both parties. Settlements offer claimants a relatively quick route to compensation without the stress of a trial.

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 Pneumo Abex LLC 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 Pneumo Abex

When the Pneumo Abex Asbestos Trust Fund was established in 2011, the company was fielding 38,000 pending lawsuits. While the trust processed some of those claims, other claimants chose to pursue lawsuit compensation directly from Pneumo Abex LLC. 

While asbestos trust funds offer quick payments in clearly defined amounts, trials offer claimants the opportunity for large verdicts and the option to seek punitive damages. However, trials can take years to resolve, particularly if the defendant decides to appeal the initial verdict, a common tactic used by asbestos companies.

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease due to exposure to Pneumo Abex’s products, help is available.

Contact us today to get a free case assessment and start the filing process with expert support.

Pneumo Abex’s Involvement With Asbestos

Founded as the American Brake Shoe & Foundry in 1902, Pneumo Abex LLC’s asbestos history dates back to the 1920s. Its predecessor, Abex Corporation, used asbestos to manufacture a wide range of friction materials, including brake linings, shoes, blocks, and clutch facings, under the American Brakeblok brand. 

Manufacturers widely used asbestos for its durability and resistance to heat and fire. Companies like Abex valued these properties so highly that they didn’t warn employees or consumers about the potential dangers. In fact, Pneumo Abex has been accused in court of actively conspiring with other companies to hide the risks of asbestos. 

Abex not only used asbestos in its products but also in its plants and foundries, creating additional health and environmental hazards, including a Superfund site in Portsmouth, Virginia. Between its products and its contaminated work sites, the company endangered thousands of people.  

An acquisition and a merger in 1985 created the Pneumo Abex Corporation, which focused on industrial and aerospace components. The company ceased using asbestos in the late 1980s, but its historical asbestos liabilities have impacted more than one former parent company, including Federal-Mogul and Cooper Industries.

Pneumo Abex LLC currently operates as a subsidiary of PCT International Holdings, Inc. 

Contact Us For a Free Case Assessment

Asbestos companies knew about the potential dangers their products posed to workers and the environment. Pneumo Abex is no exception. It chose to continue using asbestos, valuing profit over the potential costs of human suffering.

If you or a member of your family was exposed to asbestos by Pneumo Abex, you may be entitled to multiple forms of compensation. An experienced asbestos lawyer can help you create an individualized litigation plan that meets your needs and your timeline, but you have to act quickly, as time to file is limited by state regulations.

Our partner law firm, Meirowitz and Wasserberg, specializes in providing clients with individualized care and aggressive representation at no upfront cost. Their expert team works on a contingency basis to get victims and their families the maximum compensation they are due, on a timeline that works for them.

If you’re ready to start exploring your options for justice and compensation, don’t wait. We can help you determine your eligibility and learn more about your case, for free. Getting started takes just a few minutes.

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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