Tenneco, Inc. 

Tenneco, Inc. & Asbestos Exposure

Tenneco was formed in 1943 as the Tennessee division of the Chicago Corporation, changing its name to Tenneco, Inc. in 1966. The company had diverse interests, including natural gas pipelines, heavy equipment, petroleum, shipbuilding, automotive parts, packaging cartons and containers, and chemicals. 

Tenneco, like many industrial manufacturers, used asbestos insulation and fireproofing in several of its Texas industrial facilities. It also manufactured some automotive products, including Walker-brand mufflers, that contained asbestos. 

However, the company’s strongest connection to asbestos is its 2018 acquisition of Federal-Mogul, which doubled the company’s size but also exponentially increased its asbestos liability. Federal-Mogul manufactured asbestos-containing gaskets, seals, brakes, and clutches.

Tenneco currently focuses on the manufacture and sale of auto parts. It was acquired by Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm, in February 2022 and no longer publicly releases financial data.

Dangers of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos is a family of six minerals that manufacturers highly valued during the 20th century for its non-conductivity, durability, and resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. Many companies, like Tenneco, used it both in their products and in their facilities, despite widespread knowledge of the dangers of asbestos dating back to the 1960s.

When asbestos is disturbed or used, it sheds microscopic particles that can remain suspended in the air for hours in poorly ventilated areas. When inhaled or ingested, these particles do not break down. Instead, they remain lodged in body tissues for years, causing irritation, scarring, and genetic damage. Decades later, this damage can lead to serious illnesses. 

Asbestos-related illnesses include:

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

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that forms in the mesothelium, the thin lining that surrounds certain organs — most commonly, the lungs. Treatment is extremely expensive, often costing patients $400,000 or more out of pocket annually, and the condition is frequently fatal. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. 

Financial Compensation From Tenneco, Inc.

Tenneco has never declared bankruptcy and does not have a trust fund to process asbestos claims. Victims and their family members must pursue compensation through the court system.

There are two types of lawsuits most plaintiffs use when seeking legal compensation for asbestos injuries:

• 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.

Individuals exposed to asbestos can often seek compensation from multiple companies. Those in specific occupations frequently encountered significant exposure from various sources. Additionally, asbestos companies were often linked in unexpected ways, establishing interconnected networks of shared liability.

A good asbestos attorney can help you identify all the companies responsible for your exposure, holding them accountable while maximizing your potential compensation.

Your lawyer can also help you find additional sources of financial assistance, which may include:

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

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Tenneco, Inc.

Most of Tenneco’s asbestos liability comes from its 2018 acquisition of Federal-Mogul, a company whose extensive asbestos exposure issues led to its 2007 bankruptcy and the creation of an asbestos trust fund.

One example of a successful lawsuit against Federal-Mogul was a 2001 lawsuit by 22 former Texaco workers who were employed at a Texaco refinery from the 1940s to 1970s. The plaintiffs were exposed to asbestos from gaskets manufactured by a Federal-Mogul subsidiary. The jury awarded $35.2 million total, with each plaintiff receiving $1.6 million.

However, Tenneco has some independent liabilities that have also led to several lawsuits.

John Abram

John J. Abram Jr. developed asbestosis following asbestos exposure at a Tenneco refinery in Chalmette, Louisiana, where he worked from 1961 until 1990. Mr. Abram filed suit against Tenneco and others, but died before the lawsuit ended. The suit was converted to a wrongful death lawsuit, and his wife and children continued it on his behalf.

The family won their case, and the court awarded them: $2.5 million in general damages; $170,146.93 in special damages; $250,000 for his wife’s loss of consortium; and $150,000.00 for both of his children’s loss of consortium. 

Jimmy Crawford

Mr. Crawford developed lung cancer due to asbestos exposure while working at two different automotive shops between 1963 and 1965. During this period, he regularly handled asbestos-containing Walker mufflers. Mr. Crawford died before completing his case, but his wife continued it as a wrongful death lawsuit.

Unfortunately, Tenneco’s claim that only some of its mufflers contained asbestos won out over the victim’s testimony, which did not name a specific product but focused on Walker mufflers in general. 

The court ruled that his testimony failed to prove Mr. Crawford had specifically interacted with the company’s asbestos-containing products. The court granted Tenneco summary judgment and dismissed the case.

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at Tenneco, Inc.

Most of Tenneco’s asbestos liability comes from Federal-Mogul, which manufactured a wide variety of asbestos-containing automotive parts. 

Asbestos-contaminated products made by Federal-Mogul include, but are not limited to:

• Gaskets
• Seals
• Brakes
• Clutches

Tenneco also manufactured some asbestos products and used asbestos in many of its facilities.

Tenneco-specific asbestos products generally include:

• Fireproofing materials
• Insulation
• Walker mufflers

Occupations At-Risk

Tenneco was a highly diversified company with interests across many industries. Its use of asbestos, though more limited in scope than that of a company like Federal-Mogul or Johns-Manville, still endangered countless workers and their family members.

High-risk occupations include:

• Abatement workers
• Automotive workers/mechanics
• Boiler technicians
• Chemical workers
• Construction workers
• Engineers
• Insulators
• Factory workers
• Maintenance staff
• Machinists
• Millwrights
• Petroleum industry workers
• Pipe workers
• Welders

​The loved ones of asbestos workers also face an elevated risk for asbestos-related illnesses due to the mineral’s tendency to cling to the hair, skin, and clothing of those who work with or around it. Family members frequently came into contact with asbestos at home, often through activities such as washing clothes. 

Get Help Today 

The widespread industrial use of asbestos throughout the 20th century harmed hundreds of thousands of people. Although Tenneco’s use of asbestos in its products and facilities was standard for the time, it still led to serious illnesses and injuries for many workers.

If you or a loved one has suffered harm from Tenneco asbestos exposure, the resulting physical and emotional distress, along with overwhelming expenses, can be difficult to manage. By filing a claim against Tenneco and other responsible companies, you can secure financial compensation and hold these asbestos companies accountable for their negligence.

For decades, Meirowitz & Wasserberg has secured justice and compensation for asbestos injury victims and their families. As a boutique law firm focused on the unique complexities of asbestos law, they offer the dedicated resources and proven history of success essential for your claim.
Getting help is simple and free.

Reach out today for a free case assessment and learn more about your potential eligibility for compensation from Tenneco. 

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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