Flexitallic Gasket Company Subfund

Flexitallic Gasket Company was launched in 1912 to create effective sealing solutions for marine steam engines. Through 1992, the company manufactured its very popular asbestos-containing spiral wound industrial gaskets that were used in generators and other applications to improve efficiency.  

Flexitallic & Asbestos Exposure

The Flexitallic company started in the mid 1800s in England. In 1912, the company relocated its base of operations to Camden, N.J., where it continued to produce rubber gaskets and seals. 

That same year, Flexitallic invented its landmark product – the spiral wound gasket, which was created with layers of metal and fiber (asbestos) to handle high-heat jobs.

The spiral wound gasket was widely used in oil refineries and, later, on U.S. Navy battleships in World War II. The company also manufactured other gaskets and sealant products.

After a series of mergers, acquisitions and sales, Flexitallic was eventually sold to Turner & Newall, an asbestos manufacturing company based in the United Kingdom. By the late 1990s, the asbestos litigation against the company became overwhelming.

As part of the bankruptcy reorganization, Federal Mogul acquired Turner and Newall’s assets and liabilities, including those related to Flexitallic.

Expert Insight From Daniel Wasserberg

The T&N subfund started accepting claims on Aug. 25, 2010, from individuals exposed to Flexitallic’s asbestos-containing mechanisms. As part of the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Injury Trust, the subfund was initially funded with $635 million and is still paying out today.

Many of the products including gaskets and sealants could crack and release asbestos fibers in the air. The company’s employees, as well as people who use the company’s products, continue to be at risk for exposure to asbestos. Flexitallic used asbestos in their products until 1992.

For more information about filing a Flexitallic Asbestos Trust Claim, contact us today.

Associated Companies

Over the years, the company experienced ownership changes and mergers, including with British asbestos company Turner & Newall Ltd in 1970.  However, asbestos continued to be use in the spiral wound gaskets until 1992.   

Due to the mounting legal issues from asbestos exposure in their products, T&N divested Flexitallic in 1997. T&N’s financial burden from asbestos lawsuits eventually led to their bankruptcy and acquisition by Federal-Mogul. The Flexitallic Group started in the late 1990s with its headquarters in Texas.

Companies Associated with The Flexitallic Gasket Company:

• Turner & Newall Ltd
• Federal-Mogul
• The Flexitallic Group
• Gasket Holdings Inc.
• Ferodo America Inc. (also processed under the T&N subfund)

High-Risk Jobs Associated with Flexitallic

Flexitallic plant workers, their families and anyone who worked with Flexitallic devices are at risk for developing an asbestos-related illness. That includes pipefitters, refinery workers and boilermakers at chemical plants, nuclear power plants, oil refineries, paper mills and electric power plants.

The company’s spiral wound industrial gasket was also widely used in U.S. Navy vessels because it prevented steam loss and allowed the ships to travel faster.

Anyone who served aboard U.S. Navy ships or worked in shipyards are at risk for exposure to Flexitallic asbestos products. The company maintains a list of dozens of Navy cruisers, destroyers, frigates and submarines with Flexitallic asbestos products.

Jobs at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

The danger of Flexitallic products isn’t limited to those who directly handled them in the company’s plants.  Workers across industries that include shipyards, refineries, power plants and construction sites unknowingly faced a risk. 

Many are exposed during the installation, maintenance or repair of equipment containing Flexitallic components. 

The leading occupations with the highest risk of Flexitallic asbestos exposure are as follows:

Other At-Risk Jobs Include:

• Boilermakers
• Pipefitters
• General laborers
• Engineers
• Plant maintenance mechanics
• Millwrights
• Supervisors
• Unit operators
• Welders
• Safety specialists
• Lab analysts

Dangers of Secondhand Exposure

Secondhand, or secondary, exposure occurs when an individual inhales asbestos particles released by someone who was directly exposed.

Secondhand asbestos exposure is particularly concerning because the fibers, due to their microscopic size and elongated shape, easily become airborne and move in the environment once tracked into a location.

They cling to clothing, hair, furniture and other objects. This puts family members and friends who haven’t had direct contact with asbestos at risk of exposure.

Job Sites with Proven Flexitallic Asbestos Exposure

In January 2024, the trust updated the list of sites approved for claims. The 908 sites from across North America include public utilities, local municipalities, schools, private businesses, hospitals and laboratories.

In addition, Flexitallic plant employees were exposed on a daily basis no matter where they worked within the company. Even though thousands of individuals have already made claims for Flexitallic asbestos illnesses, hundreds more are pending.

Dozens of occupations have an increased risk of a disease as a result of Flexitallic exposure.

Included in the list of jobs and sites are:

Plant workers

• DuPont, Seaford, Del. (world’s first nylon plant)
• Reynolds Metals, Gregory, Texas

Pipefitters

• Niagara-Mohawk Power Company, Glenmont, N.Y.
• Shell Oil refineries, Texas, California, Wisconsin

Shipyard workers

• Avondale Shipyard, New Orleans, La.
• Kaiser Shipyard, Richmond, Calif.

Military veterans

• Chanute Field Air Force Base, Illinois
• Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts

Asbestos Products Used at Flexitallic

Flexitallic’s spiral wound gasket was widely used in commercial, industrial and residential applications. It was made from alternate layers of tightly bound metal and asbestos. Because the product was strong, it withstood high heat, fire and chemical intrusion.

 The following Flexitallic spiral-wound gaskets were mass-produced at Flexitallic plants:

• Styles M and MC Gaskets – for boiler manhole covers
• Marine Boiler Gaskets-Style T – for marine boiler and tubecap cover assemblies
• Styles CG and CGP Gaskets – for joints in petroleum refinery piping
• Style D – for raised, plain or flat face, van stone and lap joints
• Style R-1 Gaskets – for male-female joints
• Style R-3 Gaskets – for tongue and groove joints

The Formation of the Flexitallic Subfund

The Flexitallic Gasket Company’s legal problems began after workers began developing asbestos-related illnesses. In 2001, Flexitallic’s parent company, T&N, filed for bankruptcy protection from the overwhelming number of asbestos lawsuits.

Federal Mogul acquired Turner and Newall’s assets and liabilities, including the Flexitallic asbestos liabilities, as part of the reorganization.

Federal-Mogul faced some 350,000 claims with 45% of the claims (about 158,000) coming from injured Flexitallic victims. In 1998, Federal-Mogul set up a reserve fund with about $2 billion (including insurance) to handle the claims after the acquisition.

Some of the lawsuits include:

• Navy veteran’s widow (2000): The widow of a U.S. Navy veteran who died of mesothelioma received $1.2 million. The serviceman’s exposure to asbestos included Flexitallic gaskets while aboard a destroyer.
• Texas refinery workers (2001): A group of refinery workers in Texas suffering from asbestosis successfully sued Flexitallic and other manufacturers. The 22 complainants were awarded $35.2 million in compensation for their illnesses.
• California veteran (2001): A U.S. Navy veteran developed mesothelioma after exposure to Flexitallic’s asbestos gaskets while working in the military. A California jury awarded him $4.2 million.

Settlement and Payment Percentage in 2024

On March 18, 2024, the trust changed its payment percentage to 3.9%. The scheduled value for a mesothelioma claim under an expedited review is $50,000.  The maximum value under an individual review is $150,000.

The Flexitallic subtrust recognizes eight asbestos-related diseases (Disease Levels I –VIII).

Seven of the disease levels have presumptive medical and exposure requirements, which means claimants must meet specific criteria for a successful claim. Like other asbestos bankruptcy trusts, claims are paid in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) system.

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

Flexitallic Expedited Claim Process

Individuals requesting funding under the Flexitallic expedited review process must meet the presumptive medical/exposure criteria – a defined set of conditions that establish eligibility based on specific medical and exposure-related factors.

Flexitallic expedited claims helps individuals quickly with immediate needs because there are predetermined settlement amounts based on disease types and less paperwork. Claims involving Lung Cancer 2 (Disease Level VI) are not reviewed under the expedited process.

Disease	Compensation
Mesothelioma (Disease Level VIII)	$50,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$10,625
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VI)	None
Other Cancer (Level V)	$3,700
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)	$10,625
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III)	$3,125
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$1,425
Other Asbestosis Disease (Level I)	$50

The expedited claim process provides the fastest compensation – an invaluable option for individuals with urgent financial needs. However, expedited claim payouts tend to be less than those from individual reviews.

Flexitallic Individual Claim Review

Flexitallic claims that do not meet the presumptive medical/exposure criteria for the relevant disease level must undergo the Individual Review Process. While this type of review can result in a larger payout, the process takes longer because trustees reviewing the case consider individual circumstances.

Disease	Scheduled Value	Average Value	Maximum Value
Mesothelioma (Disease Level VIII)	$50,000	$62,500	$150,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$10,625	$15,000	$31,250
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VI)	None	$3,000	$10,000
Other Cancer (Level V)	$3,700	$4,900	$22,500
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)	$10,625	$13,625	$31,250
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III)	$3,175	$3,375	$6,250
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$1,425	$1,450	$2,000
Other Asbestosis Disease (Level I)	$50	None	None

The individual review process usually takes longer than the expedited option but generally offers a higher payout. Deciding which is best for you depends on various factors such as how quickly you need the money, the type of illness you have and how severe it is.

How to File The T&N Subfund of the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Injury Trust

Filing a claim to the T&N subfund involves several steps, required documentation, precise proof of exposure to asbestos and a confirmed medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness. The process can be complicated and time-consuming.

Eligibility Requirements

First and foremost, claimants must have an asbestos-disease diagnosis and connection to Flexitallic asbestos-containing products. For a successful claim, claimants must have been exposed before Dec. 31, 1982.

Medical Requirements

Each disease level has different medical requirements. In general claimants must provide documented proof of the disease based on a physician’s diagnosis or pathological evidence.

Required testing includes:

• Chest X-rays
• CAT scans
• Pathology reports
• Physician statements 
• Pulmonary function testing

Exposure Requirements

The Flexitallic subtrust also requires five years of cumulative occupational exposure to asbestos with a minimum of two years for a successful claim. The claimant must have also worked closely with asbestos.

To prove exposure, claimants often seek old records, such as:

• Pay slips
• Canceled checks
• Old photos
• Work order forms
• Union records
• Training manuals
• Company newsletters

Getting Help for Your Flexitallic Asbestos Trust Claim

Do not go through this alone. Navigating the process of an asbestos trust claim is complex. When that’s coupled with the already overwhelming burden of a serious disease, it may seem impossible. Allow us to help you through this process so you can focus on what’s really important – family, friends and wellness.

Our team will:

• Evaluate your case to determine eligibility and maximize your potential compensation.
• Help you gather and organize evidence to support your claim, including work history, medical records and any Flexitallic-specific documentation.
•  Handle all communication with the trust fund on your behalf, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
•  Advocate aggressively for your rights to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

For more information about filing a Flexitallic Asbestos Trust Claim, contact us today.