ACandS Asbestos Settlement Trust

ACandS, a subsidiary of Armstrong Cork Company, did not manufacture asbestos products. The company distributed and installed asbestos-containing insulation. Armstrong Cork’s asbestos use dates to the early 1930s. 

Some of the commonly used ACandS asbestos products include pipe coverings, foam insulation, block insulation and cement. Individuals most likely to have been exposed to ACandS insulation include installers, laborers, maintenance personnel and construction workers. 

As of December 31st, 2023, the ACandS Asbestos trust had more than $136 million in net assets currently available for claims.

ACandS Inc. & Asbestos Exposure

ACandS opened in the early 1900s as Armstrong Cork Supply to manufacture, install and service cork insulation for low-temperature applications such as cold storage and cold pipe coverings. 

As the company grew and expanded into high-temperature application products, it changed names to Armstrong Contracting and Supply Corporation and, later, ACandS. The company then began working in the commercial and industrial sectors.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Armstrong Cork Supply’s profits declined. At the same time, asbestos worker’s compensation claims began to skyrocket. Early in the ACandS company history its main insulating materials changed from cork to asbestos. 

The company also sold, used and installed asbestos-containing insulations made by other companies.

By 2002, ACandS faced thousands of legal claims as a result of its asbestos use. At first, ACandS settled almost 300,000 asbestos lawsuits. When the financial strain became too overwhelming, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Associated Companies

ACandS was formed through a series of mergers, acquisitions and employee buy-outs. Throughout the history of these business transactions, the company continued to use asbestos despite the known dangers. 

ACandS formed through a large-scale merger and was sold to its employees in a leveraged buy-out. The Irex Corp. (then known as North Lime Corp.) was formed in 1969 to carry out the transaction. ACandS also has a Canadian counterpart called ACandS Contracting Ltd.

Companies associated with AC & S Inc.:

• Armstrong Cork Company
• Armstrong Contracting and Supply Corporation
• ACandS
• North Lime Corp. 
• Irex Corp.
• ACandS Contracting Ltd.

High-Risk Jobs Associated with ACandS Inc.

ACandS installed asbestos-containing materials in a variety of industrial, commercial and institutional settings, including factories and hospitals. 

ACandS employees and others who came into contact with the company’s products were continually exposed to asbestos-containing insulation. 

Already, thousands of former employees have received financial settlements due to exposure. Scores of occupations have an increased risk of exposure to ACandS asbestos-containing products. 

Jobs at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

ACandS asbestos exposure wasn’t exclusive to those who handled the asbestos-containing products at the company’s warehouses. Anyone who came into contact with the products is at risk, including workers’ family members, who can develop asbestos diseases from secondhand exposure.

Some of the jobs at highest risk for ACandS asbestos exposure include:

Some of the other ACandS occupations that faced asbestos exposure include:

• HVAC technicians
• Engineers
• Contractors 
• Laborers
• Tile setters
• Electricians
• Boiler room workers
• Sheet Metal workers
• Painters
• Pipefitters
• Maintenance workers
• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Drywall installers
• Chemical plant workers
• Shipyard workers
• Military personnel
• Environmental services workers

Dangers of Secondhand Exposure

Secondhand asbestos exposure poses a significant risk to the family and friends of asbestos-exposed individuals. Since asbestos fibers cling to hair and clothing, workers unknowingly track the dangerous materials home.

There, the fibers adhere to clothing and furniture and ultimately get inhaled. Through the workplace-to-home transmission, children, the elderly and spouses contract asbestos diseases.

Job Sites With Proven ACandS Asbestos Exposure

ACandS asbestos was used on job sites in the United States and Canada in industries that included military, education and construction. The trust has identified specific sites where ACandS asbestos exposure took place. 

The following are examples of the specific locations on ACandS’s list:

• Pillsbury Mills (Los Angeles, California)
• Salvation Army (Oakland, California)
• Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.)
• Delaware Hospital (Wilmington, Delaware)
• Bacardi Bottling Co. (Jacksonville, Florida)
• Proctor and Gamble (Iowa City, Iowa)
• Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Blue Bird Ice Cream (Spartanburg, South Carolina)
• Puget Sound Naval Yard (Bremerton, Washington)
• General Mills (Toledo, Ohio)

You can find the entire list of approved job sites and locations here.

Asbestos Products Used at ACandS

ACandS didn’t directly manufacture asbestos but played a critical role in bringing this hazardous material into workplaces.  The company specialized in selling and installing insulation products, such as asbestos-containing tiles, paper, insulation, cement and gaskets.

Some of the products include:

• Air Cell Insulation
• Armabestos
• Armaspray
• Armatemp 
• Armstrong Kaytherm pipe covering
• Armstrong limpet spray
• Armstrong plastic emulsion
• Asbestos millboard
• Asbestos pipe covering
• Hy-Temp combination insulation
• LK Pipe Covering and Block
• Mani-Ply

The Formation of ACandS Asbestos Settlement Trust

ACandS, based in Pennsylvania, sold and manufactured insulating blocks, cements and sprays from the late 1950s through 1974. The company was once the world’s largest insulation contractor. During this time, ACandS used asbestos throughout the materials.

Medical authorities established a clear link between asbestos and severe diseases in the 1940s and 1950s. Despite the known dangers, ACandS did not supply gear or clothing to protect workers from breathing in the asbestos fibers.

The company only started distributing facemasks, respirators and other protective equipment in the 1970s.

Before the company filed bankruptcy, ACandS faced lawsuits from employees who had developed diseases after being exposed to asbestos. From the late 1980s through 2002, the company paid nearly 300,000 legal claims.  

The company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2002 when it could not pay its financial obligations due to its reckless use of asbestos. The courts initially rejected ACandS’s first reorganization plans because it didn’t account for the large number of future claims.

The judge was concerned there wouldn’t be enough funding to cover the long-term obligations. It took about six years for the trust to be established.

Settlement and Payment Percentage in 2024

The most recent trust distribution procedures were updated in 2021 and stand today. The trust pays on an impartial first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis with a schedule of seven asbestos-related diseases (Disease Levels I –VII). 

Six of the disease levels (Disease Levels I – IV, VI and VII) have presumptive medical and exposure requirements, which means claimants must meet specific criteria for a successful claim. 

These claims have specific liquidated values (also called scheduled values), which are predetermined payment amounts based on the disease severity. 

Five of the disease levels (Disease Levels III – VII) have anticipated average values and maximum values, which means the award amount depends on the level of illness. Severely ill claimants get higher funding amounts. 

Claimants can choose from two review processes: expedited and individual:

ACandS Expedited Claim Process

The ACandS expedited claims process is a less complex and faster option to help those with immediate financial need. The streamlined process allows for quicker decisions and payouts with less paperwork.

Claims involving Lung Cancer 2 (Disease Level V) are not reviewed under the expedited process. 

An expedited review provides a fixed claims payment, as follows:

Disease	Compensation
Mesothelioma (Disease Level VII)	$150,000
Lung Cancer (Disease Level VI)	$50,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Disease Level V)	None
Other Cancer (Disease Level IV)	$14,000
Severe Asbestosis (Disease Level III)	$40,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Disease Level II)	$7,500
Other Asbestos Disease (Disease Level I)	$3,000

Based on the initial payment percentage of 4%, compensation amounts could include:

Disease	Compensation Payout Examples
Mesothelioma (Disease Level VII)	$6,000
Lung Cancer (Disease Level VI)	$2,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Disease Level V)	None
Other Cancer (Disease Level IV)	$560
Severe Asbestosis (Disease Level III)	$1,600
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Disease Level II)	$300
Other Asbestos Disease (Disease Level I)	$120

ACandS Individual Claim Review

Individual reviews allow for an in-depth examination of a specific case which can lead to a greater financial payout. In the cases of mesothelioma, some lung cancers, other cancers and severe asbestosis, the trust performs a detailed review to see if the claimant might be eligible for more than the standard compensation amount.

Disease	Compensation Example
Mesothelioma (Disease Level VII)	$220,000
Lung Cancer (Disease Level VI)	$12,000 – $55,000
Other Cancer (Disease Level IV)	$15,000
Severe Asbestosis (Disease Level III)	$45,000

Expert Insight From Daniel Wasserberg

Navigating the ACandS trust review process requires careful consideration. Expedited reviews offer a quicker path to compensation, but individual reviews can potentially lead to higher awards. However, individual reviews have limitations, including the exclusion of some lung cancer claims.  Our team can help you understand the options and choose the most suitable path to maximize your financial recovery.

To learn more about your options, contact us today.

How to File an ACandS Asbestos Settlement Trust Claim

The ACandS trust was created in response to the thousands of people sickened by exposure to the company’s asbestos products. Claimants to the company’s trust can elect either an expedited review or individual review.

Specific Instructions to filing an ACandS Trust Claim:

• Submit a completed claim form along with all of the required supporting documentation
• Register with the trust in order for the trust to confirm tax identification numbers prior to disbursements as required by the Internal Revenue Service.
• Make sure your law firm is also registered with the trust.
• Claims must be filed before the expiration of the relevant statute of limitations.

All claims on the ACandS trust settlement require supporting documents that include medical records that show a claimed disease level, proof of exposure to ACandS products and a death certificate (if applicable). ACandS trust settlements are handed in a first in, first out (FIFO) order or the order in which they were received.

Eligibility Requirements

Proving exposure to specific ACandS asbestos-containing products can be an uphill battle due to missing work records, difficulty pinpointing exposure locations and complex regulations. In addition, claimants must meet specific requirements to access funding.

Medical Requirements

To secure ACandS trust compensation, a qualified physician must provide documentation that proves an asbestos-disease diagnosis. 

Some of the lab tests and documents needed to fulfill this requirement include: 

• Chest X-rays and CT scans: Imaging tests that reveal abnormalities consistent with asbestos exposure
• Pulmonary function tests: A measurement of lung function that can help identify potential damage from asbestos
• Physician reports: Medical reports documenting a diagnosis, symptoms and the treatment history.
• Biopsy findings: Tissue samples that detail the presence of asbestos fibers or specific markers of asbestos-related diseases
• Pathology analysis: An analysis of the type and characteristics of the cancerous cells that supports the link between asbestos exposure and the illness
• Surgical records: Details from the procedures and findings
• Hospital admission and discharge records:  A timeline of the illness, symptoms, diagnostic testing and treatments 
• Lab results: Blood tests or other lab results related to the diagnosis

Exposure Requirements

Demonstrating past exposure to ACandS asbestos-containing products is another key component of a successful claim.

Since the trust recognizes roughly 1,500 workplaces for ACandS exposure, claimants can provide evidence linking their work history or other experiences to these sites.

Documents that help establish this link include the following:

• Work records
• Tax returns
• Company newsletters
• Union membership records
• Internal memos
• Military service records
• Witness statements
• Apprenticeship records
• Benefits statements
• Photos or videos
• Environmental reports
• Newspaper articles 
• Accident reports

Getting Help for Your ACandS Asbestos Settlement Trust

The medical challenges following an asbestos-disease diagnosis are immense, and the legal complexities of navigating trust claims can feel daunting. You shouldn’t have to fight for the compensation you deserve. 

Our team of asbestos attorneys are dedicated to your case. They have the experience and knowledge to guide you through every step of the ACandS trust claim process to maximize a financial recovery. 

They work directly with investigators who help uncover the necessary history for a successful claim and also look into multiple asbestos trust funds that an individual might be eligible for, given work history and where exposure to asbestos occurred. Our clients are treated with the compassion and understanding they deserve. 

For more information about filing an ACandS asbestos settlement trust, contact us today.

Loved Ones & Family Members 

Watching a loved one or family member struggle with an asbestos-disease diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Between the emotional toll, financial burden and uncertainty about the future, you may feel like there’s nothing you can do. But you are not alone. 

In many cases, loved ones and family members can help sick individuals by seeking compensation from the ACandS trust that can help alleviate some of the financial burden. 

This can be used for medical expenses, lost wages or even funeral costs if necessary. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help you navigate the ACandS trust claim process and secure the compensation your loved one deserves.