Owens-Illinois used asbestos in its popular Kaylo insulation products from the 1940s to the late 1950s.
Through its products and activities, the company exposed employees, their families, and other end users, such as plumbers, pipefitters, insulators, and others, to the dangers of asbestos.
Asbestos exposure can cause serious illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Complete the form below to determine if you may be eligible for compensation from the Owens Illinois Asbestos Trust.
Key Information Regarding Owens-Illinois Asbestos Trust:
- Compensation is Available: Injured workers, bereaved family members, and secondary exposure victims may all be eligible for financial compensation through this trust fund.
- Products: Owens-Illinois’s Kaylo brand products included block insulation, pipe insulation, and pipe coverings.
- Occupations: Plumbers, pipefitters, insulators, and shipyard workers were all at high risk.
- Get Help Today: Unsure if you’re eligible? Contact us today, and we can help you determine whether you may be entitled to compensation from this trust.
Owens-Illinois History With Asbestos
Owens-Illinois (OI) was founded in 1929 through the merger of the Illinois Glass Co. and the Owens Bottle Co. Initially a producer of glass and fiberglass products, Owens-Illinois began using asbestos in its products in the 1940s.
From 1944 until 1958, Owens-Illinois manufactured and sold its Kaylo product line. Kaylo insulation products, including block insulation, pipe insulation, and pipe coverings, were made with 10% to 15% amosite or chrysotile asbestos.
When Saranac Laboratory warned Owens-Illinois about the dangers of asbestos in 1948, the company ignored the warning. Instead, it made more than $40 million from selling Kaylo asbestos products. In 1958, it sold the rights to the Kaylo brand to Owens-Corning Fiberglas™.
Owens-Illinois Maneuver to Block Asbestos Litigation
Although Owens-Illinois sold the right to produce its asbestos-contaminated Kaylo insulation product line in 1958, it’s still responsible for the harm the product caused during its ownership. The company faced its first asbestos lawsuit in 1977, kicking off decades of costly litigation.
“To dodge this responsibility and protect its most profitable assets, Owens-Illinois performed a legal maneuver in 2019 known in asbestos litigation circles as a “Texas Two-Step.”
– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

This strategy has two primary phases:
- Split the Company: Owens-Illinois divided into two new entities.
- O-I Glass Inc. retained all of the company’s most valuable assets.
- Paddock Enterprises LLC took on all the asbestos liability.
- File for Bankruptcy: Paddock Enterprises filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy almost immediately after its creation, claiming financial obligations that far outweighed its assets.
This financial and legal strategy allowed the company to protect O-I Glass — and all its valuable properties and activities — from asbestos litigation while Paddock Enterprises went bankrupt.
Many anti-asbestos advocates are critical of this increasingly popular strategy because it prevents victims from collecting full and fair compensation. Making the company’s assets look smaller during bankruptcy reduces the amount it must set aside in trust.
The bankruptcy of Paddock Enterprises was resolved in 2022 with the formation of the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust. This trust handles all claims against both O-I Glass and Paddock Enterprises.
Formation of the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust
The Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was formed to process, liquidate, and pay all valid asbestos personal injury claims made against O-I Glass Inc. and Paddock Enterprises LLC. It was initially funded with $610 million but has paid out more than $50 million since its founding in 2022.
The trust processes claims related to eight scheduled disease levels. It handles all claims on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis until the Maximum Annual Payment (MAP) is met. At this point, all claim payments are delayed until the next fiscal year.
The trust’s claims payment ratio reserves 93% of the MAP for handling category A claims related to the most severe and damaging diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and severe asbestosis. Only 7% is reserved for category B claims related to less severe diseases.
Settlement & Payment Percentage in 2025
Like most asbestos trust funds, the Owens-Illinois trust only pays a percentage of the settlement value to ensure enough funds remain to compensate all current and future victims. The current payment percentage of the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Trust is 50%.
Fact
For example, a mesothelioma claim worth $100,000 would be paid out as $50,000 once the payment percentage was applied. A large percentage of victims of asbestos exposure are eligible for multiple forms of compensation through different trusts and companies.
Source: Mesotheliomafund.comThe trust offers claimants two review processes to choose from:
- Expedited Review (ER): This review process offers a quick resolution and a guaranteed payment amount. It’s best for those who need compensation quickly.
- Individual Review (IR): IR offers the opportunity for those with unique circumstances who may not qualify for the expedited option to have their claim reviewed. This review process is best for those who can wait longer for compensation or want to maximize potential compensation.
The tables below show a claim’s scheduled or average values before applying the payment percentage.
Expedited Review Scheduled Values by Disease Level
Disease Level | Scheduled Value |
---|---|
Mesothelioma (Level VIII) | $100,000 |
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII) | $25,000 |
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI) | None |
Other Cancer (Level V) | $10,800 |
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV) | $28,200 |
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III) | $5,900 |
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II) | $2,900 |
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I) | $400 |
Individual Review Average Values by Disease Level
Disease Level | Scheduled Value |
---|---|
Mesothelioma (Level VIII) | $145,300 |
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII) | $55,900 |
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI) | $29,400 |
Other Cancer (Level V) | $13,400 |
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV) | $39,400 |
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III) | None |
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II) | None |
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I) | None |
Eligibility Requirements for the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Trust
Claimants must meet specific medical and exposure requirements to file a claim against the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Trust. All claims must be filed within the statute of limitations to be considered.
Medical Requirements
Medical requirements can vary depending on which of the eight scheduled diseases a claimant is diagnosed with.
Common requirements include:
- Diagnosis of the disease by a physician or a pathologist if the patient is deceased
- Evidence of the disease in the form of testing or imaging
- Chest X-ray
- CAT scan
- Pulmonary function test
- Pathology report
- Supporting medical evidence establishing asbestos exposure as the cause of illness
- 10-year latency
Exposure Requirements
Exposure requirements can also vary by disease type.
Standard requirements include:
- Six months of exposure before December 31, 1958
- Five years of cumulative occupational exposure to asbestos OR five years of Significant Occupational Exposure (SOE) to asbestos
Documents used to prove asbestos exposure include:
- Witness statements
- Employment records
- Military service records
- Sales records
- Construction records
Filing a Claim Against Owens-Illinois
Filing a claim against a trust fund can be a complex and burdensome process. Working with an experienced asbestos attorney can help eligible victims navigate the process smoothly and successfully.
Steps to file a claim against the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Trust:
- Choose between expedited and individual review.
- Submit a claim form with all required supporting documentation.
- Monitor the status of your claim and respond to any additional requests for documentation and clarification.
- Accept the offered settlement or enter arbitration to dispute the decision.
Loved Ones & Family Members
It’s also possible for the loved ones and family members of asbestos workers to take legal action against negligent asbestos companies.
There are two primary paths these individuals can take to compensation:
- Wrongful Death Claim: Filed by bereaved dependents after the death of an asbestos-exposure victim, this type of claim can help those left behind cover remaining medical bills, burial expenses, and loss of future income.
- Secondary Exposure Claim: Sometimes, the family members and loved ones of asbestos exposure victims can also become sick with asbestos-related illnesses following secondary asbestos exposure in the home. These victims also have a right to seek compensation for their asbestos injuries.
Working with an experienced asbestos lawyer can help clarify your potential options. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, don’t wait to get help.
Contact us today for a free case assessment.
Sources
- A listing of asbestos products by manufacturing company. (n.d.). https://www.asbestos-attorney.com/asbestos_product_brands.htm
- DUKES V. Honeywell International, Inc., Defendant-Appellant. (2008). (n.d.). FindLaw. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/il-court-of-appeals/1478361.html
- FIRST AMENDED OWENS-ILLINOIS ASBESTOS PERSONAL INJURY TRUST DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURES. (2023, December 1). Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.oiasbestospersonalinjurytrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/First-Amended-Owens-Illinois-Asbestos-Personal-Injury-Trust-Distribution-Procedures-C1294739x9DB18.pdf
- Friedman, D. J. (n.d.). InspectApedia.com – encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair. https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Asbestos_Producing_Companies.php#O
- Lockhart, B., Hoenig, R., Schriever, B., Lindsey, B., & Serr, C. (n.d.). Owens-Illinois Glass Co. Part 1 – History. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/OwensIllinois2018Part1.pdf
- O-I. (2023, December 22). O-I Glass Subsidiary Paddock Enterprises, LLC Files Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization and Disclosure Statement | O-I. https://www.o-i.com/news/o-i-glass-subsidiary-paddock-enterprises-llc-files-chapter-11-plan-of-reorganization-and-disclosure-statement/
- O-I. (2024, February 12). O-I Glass Subsidiary, Paddock Enterprises, LLC, Receives Court approval of disclosure Statement and Solicitation process | O-I. https://www.o-i.com/news/oi-glass-subsidiary-paddock-enterprises-llc-receives-court-approval-of-disclosure-statement-and-solicitation-process/
- O-I. (2024b, April 23). Paddock Enterprises, LLC, an O-I Glass, Inc. Affiliate, Seeks a Final and Equitable Resolution of its Legacy Asbestos-Related Claims | O-I. https://www.o-i.com/news/paddock-enterprises-llc-an-o-i-glass-inc-affiliate-seeks-a-final-and-equitable-resolution-of-its-legacy-asbestos-related-claims/
- Owens-Illinois Asbestos Personal Injury Trust. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.oiasbestospersonalinjurytrust.com/