NARCO Asbestos Trust

Once one of the nation’s leading refractory companies, NARCO owned mines, factories, and warehouses in several states.

It produced a variety of popular asbestos cement brands commonly used in furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, and ovens and later expanded its product lines to offer brake pads and furnace fittings. 

Although the company is still active as a subsidiary, the NARCO Asbestos Trust was created in 2013 after an 11-year bankruptcy. It was funded with $6.3 billion to compensate the hundreds of thousands of people harmed by NARCO’s asbestos-containing products.

The NARCO Asbestos Trust payment percentage is 100%, meaning it pays the total value of all successful claims. This is much higher than most other asbestos trust funds, which only pay a fraction of the settlement value.

See if you qualify for compensation from the NARCO asbestos trust today.

North American Refractories & Asbestos Exposure

For nearly five decades, North American Refractories produced heat- and fire-resistant refractory materials for furnaces and boilers used in industrial applications. Many of the company’s products relied on asbestos because of its durability and heat resistance.

The company, commonly known as NARCO, grew through mergers and acquisitions. It was owned by Honeywell until 1986.

During that time, NARCO made other asbestos-containing products, including brake pads and furnace fittings. 

NARCO had manufacturing locations in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. The company is currently owned by HarbisonWalker International, the American brand of Calderys, and is still active as a subsidiary today.

Mounting Lawsuits Against NARCO 

Before the formation of the NARCO Trust, the company faced significant legal challenges stemming from past negligence related to asbestos.

Numerous former employees and consumers filed asbestos lawsuits against NARCO and its parent companies.

• $18.5 million was awarded to the family of a brake shop worker in Little Rock, Arkansas, who was exposed to asbestos-contaminated brake pads.
• In Texas in 1999, over $7 million was awarded to two engineers and their wives for asbestos exposure in a NARCO factory.
• In addition to trial verdicts like those above, NARCO settled over 176,000 cases out of court for about $2,200 per case.

Honeywell Lawsuit With NARCO

Honeywell purchased NARCO in 1979, incorporating it into their heating division. Although they later sold the subsidiary to ANH Refractories, Honeywell’s past ownership left them legally liable for NARCO’s actions, making them partially responsible for funding the NARCO trust.

This liability previously cost Honeywell about $150 million annually. Dissatisfied with this ongoing obligation, Honeywell sued the NARCO trust, alleging it was improperly paying claimants unrelated to Honeywell. 

In 2022, Honeywell and the NARCO Asbestos Trust reached a settlement, with Honeywell paying a one-time lump sum of $1.325 billion to eliminate all future obligations and end the annual payments.

Check the form below to see if you may qualify for compensation from The North American Refractories Company Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust today.

Associated Companies 

The North American Refractories Company was founded in 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio, as a combination of several companies, including Crescent Fire Brick Company in Pennsylvania and Dover Fire Brick Company in Ohio.

NARCO became one of the largest asbestos refractory material manufacturers in the United States, initially producing asbestos-containing refractory cement used in high-heat areas, including furnaces, fireplaces, and barbecues.

In 1979, Honeywell purchased NARCO and made the company part of its heating division. By the time the NARCO division stopped selling asbestos-containing products, thousands of people had been exposed to the dangerous mineral.

NARCO was later acquired by ANH Refractories, which, after a series of recent mergers, is now called HarbisonWalker International (HWI), the American brand name of Calderys. NARCO is still an active subsidiary.

Companies Associated With North American Refractories:

• ANH Refractories
• A.P. Green Refractories Company
• Calderys
• Crescent Fire Brick Company 
• Dover Fire Brick Company 
• Harbison-Walker Refractories Company
• Honeywell
• HWI
• RHI Refractories

Hazardous Occupations Associated With NARCO

NARCO began operating at the turn of the century as the need for new housing increased. Thanks to its extensive brickmaking operations, NARCO rapidly expanded.

Many refractories, including NARCO, built company housing in towns near the factories. The earliest NARCO location had more than 400 employees.

By early 1940, NARCO operated 12 plants, 18 mines, and two quarries. It also operated several warehouses in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Ontario.

These operations exposed thousands of employees and consumers to asbestos-contaminated products.

Jobs at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Other At-Risk Jobs Include:

• Brick masons
• Concrete laborers
• Construction workers
• Engineers
• Furnace operators
• Glass workers
• Metal workers
• Mine/quarry workers
• Steelworkers
• Warehouse employees
• Welders

Asbestos Products Used at NARCO

Ten of NARCO’s 12 plants manufactured fireclay products, and two manufactured silica bricks. Many of the plants specialized in specific products, including blast furnace bricks and spalling-resistant roof bricks.

Asbestos concrete products, furnace fittings, and brake pads were also cornerstones of their operations.

The use of asbestos continued for decades despite the material’s known dangers. Across the United States, asbestos product manufacturers like NARCO deliberately suppressed research and concealed their knowledge of the risks to focus on profits.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products Used at NARCO Include:

• Aerogun
• Anti-Erode Trowel
• BOF-Cote
• BOF-Patch
• CM Gun Mix
• CM-18 Gun Mix
• MC Gun Mix
• Narcocast Trowels
• Narcogun
• Narcolite Refractory Cement
• Narmag 60 DBRC
• Narmag OH Gun Mix
• Staz-On Insulating Cement
• Super 505 Hot Gun
• Unicote
• W0-339 MC Gun

Formation of the NARCO Asbestos Trust

Founded in 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio, NARCO grew substantially over time, expanding its asbestos product offerings through the early 1980s.

The company also purchased and operated mines, quarries, and warehouses during this period.

By the time NARCO discontinued the use of asbestos in 1980, tens of thousands of people had already been exposed through its operations.

Because of this widespread exposure, the company settled around 176,000 asbestos-related cases at a cost of about $2,200 per case by the early 2000s. 

Due to its mounting legal liabilities, NARCO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002. The NARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Trust began operations in 2013, funded with $6.3 billion to handle claims.

By 2016, the NARCO Asbestos Trust had paid 5,808 claims, totaling $92.7 million. To date, over 300,000 claims have been filed against the trust.

The NARCO Trust reserves 60% of its maximum annual payment (MAP) for claims involving severe asbestosis and other severe malignancies like mesothelioma and lung cancer and 40% for nonmalignant diseases.

Understanding the Different Review Processes

The NARCO Asbestos Trust offers claimants the choice of two different review processes when they submit a claim: expedited and individual.

Eligible claimants should work with their legal advisors to choose the claims process best suited to their circumstances.  

Expedited Review

Expedited review (ER) claims offer claimants the fastest and most straightforward claims resolution journey. Although ER claimants must meet strict eligibility requirements, successful ER claims offer a guaranteed settlement amount and are often resolved in as few as 90 days.

ER claims are best suited for those with solid documentation who need compensation quickly to meet pressing medical and living expenses. Lung cancer 2 (Level V) and secondary exposure claims are not eligible for ER.

Individual Review

Individual review (IR) is a process by which each claim is examined in detail to assess its merits individually. IR claims take longer to process but, when successful, tend to have a higher payout than an ER claim. 

IR is best for those who can wait a little longer, want to maximize potential compensation, or have exceptional circumstances they want accounted for in the award amount. All foreign claims must undergo IR.

Settlement and Payment Percentage

The NARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Trust is one of the few asbestos trusts that pay 100% of the settlement value. 

NARCO expedited review claims receive a set amount called the scheduled value, while individual review claims are more variable. The table below reflects the average compensation for a successful claim.

Compensation Amounts for Individual Review

Disease	Compensation
Mesothelioma	$250,000
Lung Cancer	$50,000
Severe Asbestosis	$50,000
Other Cancer	$25,000

Compensation Amounts for Expedited Review

Disease	Compensation
Mesothelioma	$75,000
Lung Cancer	$18,000
Other Cancer	$9,000
Severe Asbestosis	$18,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease	Up to $7,500

Eligibility Requirements for the NARCO Trust

To receive financial compensation from the NARCO Asbestos Trust, claimants must submit a completed claim within the statute of limitations.

The claim must include thorough documentation to establish eligibility, divided into two categories: medical requirements and exposure requirements.

Medical Requirements

The specific medical documentation needed to prove eligibility varies based on the claimant’s diagnosed disease level, which is categorized into one of seven scheduled disease levels. However, many documentation requirements are similar across levels.

Common requirements include:

• A medical diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness from a doctor or pathologist 
• Proof of the condition in the form of imaging and tests, like:
  • X-ray
  • CAT scan
  • PET scan
  • MRI
  • Pulmonary testing
  • Pathology report
• Supporting evidence tying asbestos exposure to the diagnosis
• 10-year latency

Exposure Requirements

The exposure requirements also vary slightly depending on the claimant’s illness.

Common requirements include:

• Evidence of exposure to a specific asbestos-containing product manufactured or distributed by NARCO or its predecessors
• Significant occupational exposure to asbestos as defined by the Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP)
• Five years of cumulative occupational exposure to asbestos

To meet these requirements, claimants must provide significant supporting documentation.

Types of documents commonly used include: 

• Affidavits/witness statements
• Construction records
• Employment records
• Insurance records
• Military service records
• Paystubs
• Sales records

Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against North American Refractories

Filing a claim that meets the stringent requirements of the NARCO Trust can be difficult and time-consuming. Claimants must follow a strict series of steps to complete the process successfully.

If any step is not completed to the standards required by the TDP, the claim will be rejected, and the claimant will have to start over.

To file a claim against the NARCO Trust, claimants must:

1. Choose between expedited and individual review.
2. File a complete claim form.
3. Submit all required documentation.
4. During the claim review, provide clarification and submit any additional documentation as requested by the trust. 
5. Finalize and accept the settlement amount.

A reputable asbestos lawyer can help with every step of the process, streamlining filing and allowing clients to focus on their health and families during a difficult time.

If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and are eligible to file a claim with the NARCO Asbestos Trust Fund, the guidance of a legal expert can help minimize your stress and maximize potential compensation.

Loved Ones & Family Members 

Asbestos-related illnesses are often severe and progress rapidly. Many victims face significant health challenges or even premature death, making it difficult to handle the demands of filing a claim.

In these situations, the responsibility often shifts to loved ones or family members to manage the claims process.

When combined with the existing physical, emotional, and financial strains of caregiving, navigating the complexities of filing a claim against an asbestos trust fund can feel overwhelming.

Working with an experienced asbestos attorney can help ease those burdens. A good asbestos lawyer helps eligible clients with every step of the filing process, reducing stress while maximizing potential compensation.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos disease and you want to explore your options for financial assistance, reach out to our knowledgeable team for a free consultation.