Riley Stoker Corporation

Highest-Risk Occupations

Asbestos-containing products shed cancer-causing dust and particles when they are damaged or disturbed. Riley Stoker did not warn people that the asbestos components in its boiler systems were hazardous to their health.

Because they weren’t aware of the potential hazards, many people worked with these products in poorly ventilated areas and did not wear protective equipment, both of which increase risks.   

Who is At Highest Risk for Exposure?

Riley Stoker Corporation used asbestos-containing components in its boiler systems for almost 70 years.

This negligence endangered not only the employees responsible for assembling the company’s products, but also anyone who worked near or with Riley Stoker boilers during installation, repairs, and maintenance.   

Boiler Technician

Boiler technicians who worked on Riley Stoker systems encountered asbestos during installation, repairs, and regular maintenance.

Cutting and removing asbestos gaskets and insulation could create dangerous asbestos dust. When inhaled or ingested, asbestos can cause severe illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Factory Worker

Workers at Riley Stoker manufacturing sites were exposed to asbestos components during assembly.

Additionally, workers at other facilities, such as paper and steel mills, that used Riley Stoker boiler systems were also at risk of asbestos exposure, particularly if they worked near the equipment during repairs or routine servicing. 

Family Members Exposed Secondhand

The family members of asbestos workers may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits if they experienced secondary exposure during routine tasks like cleaning clothes at home.

Others may be eligible for wrongful death lawsuits if their loved one has passed away from an asbestos-related illness caused by exposure to Riley Stoker products.

Riley Stoker Corporation Asbestos Products

Asbestos is durable, lightweight, nonconductive, and resistant to heat, fire, and chemical corrosion. Boiler systems, particularly industrial systems such as those made by Riley Stoker, must withstand high heat and pressure, making asbestos an attractive and naturally abundant solution. 

Riley Stoker began using asbestos components in its products as early as 1911. Although it did not manufacture these components, instead purchasing them from other asbestos manufacturers, its boiler systems relied on the presence of asbestos components to function properly.

It sold its products to a wide range of clients, including power plants, oil refineries, factories, paper mills, steel mills, and more. It continued using asbestos components until 1979, years after the dangers of asbestos were common knowledge.   

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Asbestos rope
• Asbestos cloth
• Block insulation
• Cement
• Gaskets
• Heat exchangers
• Millboard
• Packing
• Pipe insulation
• Refractory materials
• Sealing

Securing Compensation From Riley Stoker Corporation

Riley Stoker was responsible for decades of asbestos exposure, injuring employees and workers across the country with its negligence and failure to warn about the dangers of its products.

If you or a loved one worked for Riley Stoker or with its products and has since developed an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to lawsuit compensation.

Due to the widespread use of asbestos during the 20th century, many claimants are also eligible to file lawsuits against other asbestos companies. Some may also be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as asbestos trust funds, VA benefits, and workers’ compensation.

We can help you learn whether you qualify for free. Contact us today to get a free case assessment.

Claimants with a case against Riley Stoker may also be able to pursue compensation from its suppliers. However, it’s critically important to know which suppliers made the parts you specifically encountered. Your lawyer will help you find the evidence and documentation you need to build a strong case against the companies responsible for your injuries.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

Riley Stoker Corporation has not filed for bankruptcy or established an asbestos trust fund. Instead, the company chooses to handle claims in court, with the costs of these claims still indemnified by its previous parent company, Ashland.

Victims and their loved ones usually file two types of lawsuits when pursuing compensation from Riley Stoker:

• 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.

Like many asbestos companies, Riley Stoker frequently handles strong claims by offering out-of-court settlements.

Settlements can be a good option for claimants who need compensation quickly and want to avoid the stress of a trial. Your lawyer will help you negotiate a settlement offer that meets your needs.

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 Riley Stoker Corporation 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 Riley Stoker Corporation

Riley Stoker began facing asbestos litigation in the 1980s, costing its parent company, Ashland, millions of dollars. When Ashland sold it in 1990, one condition of the sale was that it would continue to cover its former subsidiary’s asbestos liabilities. 

Since then, asbestos claimants have named Riley Stoker in thousands of claims. According to Ashland’s 2025 annual report, the company spent $36 million, $39 million, and $42 million on asbestos litigation in 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. 

Years earlier, the company estimated that the total costs of handling its asbestos liabilities would be $1.9 billion. The company created a dedicated reserve to cover defense and settlement costs related to asbestos. As of September 30, 2025, Ashland’s asbestos litigation reserves amounted to $435 million. 

If you or one of your loved ones has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease caused by exposure to Riley Stoker’s products, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us today to get a free case assessment and learn more about your options.

Riley Stoker Corporation’s Involvement With Asbestos

The Riley Stoker Corporation has been making industrial boilers since its founding in 1890. Beginning in 1911, it began incorporating asbestos components like gaskets, packing, cement, millboard, insulation, and more.

It purchased these components from other asbestos manufacturers, but Riley Stoker’s boiler systems, which needed to operate in high-heat, high-pressure environments, required these components to function properly. 

Riley Stoker’s products were popular and widely used. By 1966, the company had supplied boilers to 41.7% of all investor-owned electrical utilities operating thermal power plants in the U.S. These systems, along with those provided to factories, industrial operations, oil refineries, steel mills, and paper mills, created a significant asbestos-exposure footprint. 

The company continued using asbestos until 1979, endangering thousands of workers through its negligent use of asbestos products and its failure to warn users and employees of the potential dangers. Despite facing thousands of claims, Riley Stoker (now Riley Power) remains an active and solvent company. It is currently owned by Babcock Power. 

Contact Us For a Free Case Assessment

By the time Riley Stoker stopped using asbestos components in its products, the medical community had been warning about asbestos’s hazardous nature for years. Like many companies, it chose convenience and profits over human health, endangering thousands of people.

Victims of asbestos exposure face high risks for developing severe diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Treating these illnesses is expensive, and many victims are unable to work due to their injuries, leading to physical, emotional, and financial strain.

If Riley Stoker’s negligent asbestos use injured you or one of your loved ones, you may be entitled to legal compensation. The team at our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, has helped asbestos exposure victims and their families secure over $500 million in compensation from negligent asbestos companies.  

You deserve experienced, tailored support when filing your claim. Getting started is simple. Contact us today for your free case evaluation and let us help you determine your eligibility and learn more about your options.

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