DII Industries Asbestos Trust

Individuals or their loved ones who have been affected by an asbestos-related disease due to exposure to products associated with the DII Asbestos Trust may have the exact opportunity file a claim. 

On December 16, 2003, Halliburton filed its petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company formed the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust with roughly $4 billion set aside to settle asbestos-related claims

DII Industries claims are paid at 60%. Like other asbestos trust funds, the compensation amount is limited to ensure there is enough money to pay future claimants.

As of 2024, the trust has approximately $2.6 billion remaining, with a total of 500,000 claims submitted.

DII Industries & Asbestos Exposure

Harbison-Walker Refractories was founded in 1865 in Pennsylvania and manufactured fire bricks.

In the late 1960s, the company merged with Dresser Industries, an oil-drilling equipment manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas. By early 1997, Dresser Industries and Halliburton merged, creating DII Industries.

These companies manufactured a variety of products made from asbestos including heat-resistant equipment for oilfield and gas pipeline operations. Asbestos could be found in several DII Industries products such as insulation, turbines, and furnaces.

As one of the largest trusts, DII Industries trust currently contains $2.6 billion. Created in 2005, the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust was the result of the bankruptcy of multiple corporations.

DII Industries Asbestos Lawsuits 

Halliburton, Kellogg Brown & Root, Dresser, and other subsidiaries faced 400,000 asbestos-related claims at the time of bankruptcy filing. 

Some notable DII Industries asbestos lawsuits include:

• Halliburton reported paying about $900 million a year from 2002 to 2004 for asbestos lawsuits.
• Five victims across the pipefitting and bricklaying industries who developed asbestos-related diseases through occupational and secondhand exposure were awarded $40 million in 2001.

*The DII Industries asbestos started with more than $2.6 billion and, in 2023 alone, paid out nearly $115.7 million to compensate injured victims for asbestos-related illnesses and injuries. Fill out the form below to learn if you or a family member qualify for compensation.

Associated Companies 

There are numerous companies associated with DII Industries. Individuals who worked for these companies may have been exposed to asbestos products while working with materials at oilfields or gas pipelines.

Companies Associated With DII Industries:

• Dresser Industries
• Halliburton Company
• Harbison-Walker Refractories Company 
• Kellogg Brown & Root

Workers employed by many other companies across the oil and gas industries may have been exposed to asbestos while they were on the job. 

High-Risk Jobs Associated With DII Industries

Several occupations were at a higher risk of asbestos exposure due to DII Industries products.

Halliburton, DII Industries, Dresser, Harbison-Walker, or Kellogg Brown & Root employees and their loved ones may have developed an asbestos-related illness due to occupational or secondhand exposure.

Jobs at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Occupational asbestos exposure is one of the leading causes of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma. Many affected occupations were in the oil and gas industries due to the products DII Industries produced.

Pipeline Construction Workers

Construction workers involved in building, maintaining, and demolishing pipes may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials such as insulation and fireproofing.

Boilermakers

Workers who constructed and repaired boilers containing asbestos insulation were at a high risk of exposure and developing asbestos-related diseases.

Plant Workers & Manufacturers

Plant employees who manufactured insulation, firebrick, pumps, turbines, cement, and more were often in direct contact with asbestos on the job.

Other At-Risk Jobs

• Brickmakers
• Drilling crew members
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Ironworkers
• Cementers
• Transport drivers
• Pipefitters
• Remodelers
• Oil refinery workers
• Shipyard workers

Asbestos Products Used at DII Industries

Many products manufactured by the numerous companies and subsidiaries that made up DII Industries were crafted from asbestos-containing materials. Anyone who handled these products may have been exposed to asbestos at some point in time. 

Top Asbestos-Containing Products Used at DII Industries:

• Cement
• Compressors
• Dresser pumps
• Drilling muds
• Fireproofing products
• Furnaces
• Gaskets
• Insulation
• Kilns
• Packings
• Pumps
• Refractory bricks
• Turbines
• Valves

The Formation of the DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust

Despite knowing the dangers surrounding asbestos exposure, DII Industries continued to operate and manufacture products made with asbestos. 

As a result of the influx of asbestos lawsuits, Halliburton, Kellogg Brown & Root, Dresser Industries, and other subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The resulting trust is called DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust and was initially funded with $4 billion in cash and stock. At the time, it was considered the largest asbestos trust in history. 

Understanding the Different Review Processes

Asbestos disease victims who file DII Industries asbestos trust claims can choose from two different review processes: expedited review or individual review.

Individual reviews will always take longer but are usually larger than settlement amounts. The choice between which type to file depends on the disease, degree of illness, and exposure levels.

Expedited Review

The DII Industries trust fund expedited review (ER) is the quickest way for individuals and their loved ones to receive compensation.

This avenue to receive compensation may be preferable for individuals looking to cover costs associated with treating an asbestos-related disease. An expedited review typically results in less compensation than an individual review.

Individual Review

A DII Industries individual review (IR) typically takes more time to settle than an expedited review but generally results in a higher average payout depending on the victim’s medical diagnosis and exposure history.

The individual review option may be best suited for individuals looking to get the maximum amount of compensation available to them based on their case.

Settlement and Payment Percentage in 2024

The DII Asbestos Trust was created in 2005 and pays on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis, meaning claims are processed in the order in which they are received. As of 2024, the payment percentage for DII Industries asbestos claims is 60%.

Expedited Review Settlement & Average Payout

An expedited review allows for individuals who meet medical and exposure requirements to obtain compensation as quickly as possible.

In the expedited review, claimants receive a fixed payment based on a percentage of the scheduled value for each disease. Currently, this payment percentage is set at 60%. 

There are two types of expedited review claims:

• Halliburton or Non-Harbison-Walker entity claims
• Harbison-Walker entity claims

Halliburton or Non-Harbison-Walker Entity Claim Payouts

Disease	Scheduled Value
Mesothelioma (Level VIII)	$60,718.95
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$9,872.14
Other Cancer (Level IV)	$8,492.16
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)	$9,978.29
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III)	$2,547.65
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$1,167.67
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I)	$106.15

Harbison-Walker Entity Claim Payouts

Disease	Scheduled Value
Mesothelioma (Level VIII)	$144,897.50
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$47,662.25
Other Cancer (Level IV)	$25,476.48
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)	$31,314.84
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III)	$7,642.95
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$4,033.78
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I)	$318.46

Individual Review Settlement & Average Payout

An individual review claim is paid out at the current payment percentage of 60% of the liquidated amount and may be greater or less than the scheduled value of the disease level.

There are two types of individual review claims:

• Halliburton or Non-Harbison-Walker entity claims
• Harbison-Walker entity claims

Halliburton or Non-Harbison-Walker Entity Claim Payouts

Disease	Average Value	Maximum Value
Mesothelioma (Level VIII)	$81,100.14	$271,749.16
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$12,738.24	$42,354.65
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI)	$4,246.08	$14,118.22
Other Cancer (Level V)	$10,402.90	$34,711.71
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)	$10,509.05	$42,566.96

Harbison-Walker Entity Claim Payouts

Disease	Average Value	Maximum Value
Mesothelioma (Level VIII)	$193,196.67	$647,527.29
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$61,249.71	$204,024.17
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI)	$20,381.19	$67,937.29
Other Cancer (Level V)	$30,784.08	$102,436.69
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)	$32,907.12	$133,326.93

Eligibility Requirements for the DII Asbestos Trust

Individuals seeking financial compensation from the DII Asbestos Trust must meet several medical and exposure requirements that vary depending on the asbestos-related disease diagnosis.

Medical Requirements

Medical requirements and eligibility for this claim can vary by disease level. Below, you can learn the various medical requirements needed to file a claim by disease level.

Level I: Other Asbestos-Related Disease

• Diagnosis of Bilateral Asbestos-Related Non-Malignant Disease (BARNMD) or an asbestos-related malignancy other than mesothelioma
• Evidence of a BARNMD with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification 
• 10-year latency

Level II: Asbestosis/Pleural Disease

• Diagnosis of Bilateral Asbestos-Related Non-Malignant Disease (BARNMD) or an asbestos-related malignancy other than mesothelioma
• Evidence of a BARNMD with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification
• 10-year latency

Level III: Asbestosis/Pleural Disease

• Diagnosis of Bilateral Asbestos-Related Non-Malignant Disease (BARNMD) or an asbestos-related malignancy other than mesothelioma based on:
  • A physical exam by the diagnosing physician
  • If the claimant is deceased, pathological evidence of a non-malignant asbestos-related disease
• Evidence of a BARNMD with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification
• Pulmonary function testing meeting ATS quality criteria, showing either a TLC less than 80% or an FVC less than 80% with an FEV1/FVC ratio of 65% or higher
• Medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing pulmonary disease
• 10-year latency

Level IV: Severe Asbestosis

• Diagnosis of asbestosis
• An ILO of 2/1 or greater or pathological evidence of asbestosis
• Pulmonary Function Testing in compliance with the quality criteria established by the ATS with either:
  • TLC less than 65%; or
  • FVC less than 65% and FEV1/FVC ratio greater than 65%.
• Supporting medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing pulmonary disease
• 10-year latency

Level V: Other Cancer

• Diagnosis of a primary colorectal, laryngeal, esophageal, pharyngeal, or stomach cancer
• Evidence of an underlying BARNMD with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification 
• Supporting medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing other cancer
• 10-year latency

Level VI: Lung Cancer 2

• Diagnosis of a primary lung cancer 
• Supporting medical documentation establishing asbestos exposure as a contributing factor in causing lung cancer
• 10-year latency

Level VII: Lung Cancer 1

• Diagnosis of a primary lung cancer
• Evidence of a BARNMD with bilateral interstitial fibrosis, bilateral pleural plaques, bilateral pleural thickening, or bilateral pleural calcification 
• Causal statement from a medical doctor linking lung cancer to asbestos exposure
• 10-year latency

Level VIII: Mesothelioma

• A diagnosis of a mesothelioma
• 10-year latency

Exposure Requirements

Exposure requirements and eligibility for this claim can vary by disease level. Below, you can learn the various requirements needed to file a claim by disease level.

Level I: Other Asbestos-Related Disease

• DII Company exposure prior to December 31, 1982

Level II: Asbestosis/Pleural Disease

• Six months of DII Company exposure prior to December 31, 1982
• Five years of cumulative occupational exposure to asbestos

Level III: Asbestosis/Pleural Disease

• Six months of DII Company exposure prior to December 31, 1982
• Significant occupational exposure to asbestos

Level IV: Severe Asbestosis

• Six months of DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982
• Significant occupational exposure to asbestos

Level V: Other Cancer

• Six months of DII Company exposure prior to December 31, 1982
• Significant occupational exposure to asbestos

Level VI: Lung Cancer 2

• DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982

Level VII: Lung Cancer 1

• Six months of DII Company Exposure prior to December 31, 1982
• Significant occupational exposure to asbestos

Level VIII: Mesothelioma

• Credible evidence of DII Company exposure prior to December 31, 1982

Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against DII Industries

The amount of compensation you can potentially receive from the DII Industries Asbestos Trust may decrease as time goes on due to changes in the distribution of the trust, so it’s important to seek compensation as soon as possible.

Partnering with a trusted legal expert can make the claim filing process as simple and stress-free as possible. If eligibility requirements are met, our legal team may be able to seek the maximum compensation available to you and your loved ones.

Once our team understands your case and collects the required documentation to file a DII Industries claim, we may begin the legal process outlined below:

• DII trustees assess your claim’s validity. If your claim is denied, you may be able to provide additional information, refile, or request an individual review.
• If your claim is validated, the DII Asbestos Trust determines the compensation amount based on scheduled values and applies a payment percentage to all payouts.
• Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to negotiate your compensation amount. Consult our team to determine eligibility.
• Once all parties accept your claim, arrangements for direct deposit can be made.

We can help you take the first step in filing a claim. To determine if you may be eligible to collect compensation from the DII Industries trust, contact us today.

Loved Ones & Family Members 

Our team understands the emotional and financial burden many families face when their loved one is fighting an asbestos-related disease.

Loved ones and family members may be eligible to file a claim with the DII Industries trust to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, or funeral expenses. You can rest assured knowing you’re in good hands and there are options to help you seek compensation and justice for your family.