Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Trust

The Pittsburgh Corning Corporation (PCC) began facing asbestos personal injury lawsuits in the 1970s.

By 2000, the company faced over 400,000 asbestos lawsuits, only half of which were resolved when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 16. The other 235,000 were put on hold for 16 years.

Pittsburgh Corning emerged from bankruptcy in April 2016 with an agreement to fund their trust with $3.5 billion, making it one of the largest asbestos trusts nationwide.  

The Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Trust recognizes and pays claims for eight asbestos-related diseases, the most severe of which is mesothelioma (Level VIII) and the least severe of which is Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I). 

Like all asbestos trust funds, the PCC trust only pays a percentage of the settlement value to ensure enough money remains for all future claimants. 

Pittsburgh Corning & Asbestos Exposure

Pittsburgh Corning was founded in 1937 as a joint venture between two prominent glassmakers, Corning Glass Works and Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPG). Early on, the company solely produced architectural glass blocks.

In 1961, Corning partnered with UNARCO Industries to produce the Unibestos product line, which contained up to 90% amosite asbestos, one of the deadliest varieties.

Before Pittsburgh Corning entered the UNARCO deal, Corning was warned about the dangers of asbestos.

In a 1975 court case, scientist Richard Gaze testified that he advised Corning that workers must be protected before the UNARCO deal.

Gaze, who worked for an asbestos supplier, testified that he continually warned Corning of the dangers for ten years.

Beginning in 1962, Pittsburgh Corning manufactured the Unibestos product line in its Texas and Pennsylvania plants.

From 1964 to 1971, Corning employed industrial hygiene consultant Morton Corn, who urged the company to improve plant ventilation and limit worker access to asbestos.

PCC did not stop producing asbestos-containing products until 1972.

Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Lawsuits

The late 1970s marked a turning point in Pittsburgh Corning asbestos lawsuits when 475 workers at the company’s shuttered Tyler, Texas, plant fell ill with asbestos-related diseases.

Following a landmark class action lawsuit, the company settled with the plaintiffs for about $20 million, with the funding coming from a variety of sources:

• Pittsburgh Corning – $8 million
• UNARCO (manufacturer of asbestos-containing products) – $1 million
• Cape Industries (asbestos supplier) – $5.2 million
• The federal government (Unibestos product purchaser) – $5.7 million

In the years following the 1970s, Pittsburgh Corning was deluged with litigation. By 1981, it faced up to 20,000 open asbestos claims; by 1985, the number rose to 75,000 claims.

Court documents and testimony show Pittsburgh Corning knew about the dangers associated with asbestos but kept it hidden to increase profits. 

See if you qualify for compensation from the Pittsburgh Corning trust fund today.

Associated Companies 

Pittsburgh Corning is affiliated with several other companies that are facing legal troubles due to irresponsible asbestos usage. 

Created as a joint venture between the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company and the Corning Glass Works — also one of the founders of Owens Corning, another asbestos-containing product manufacturer — PCC entered the asbestos market despite internal and external warnings. 

In 1961, they worked with UNARCO to develop and distribute the Unibestos insulation product line. Owens Corning acquired them as a subsidiary in 2017 shortly after PCC emerged from bankruptcy. 

Companies Associated With Pittsburgh Corning:

• Corning Glass Works
• Corning Incorporated
• Dow Corning
• Enseco
• Hazleton Laboratories
• MetPath
• Owens Corning
• Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company
• Samcor Glass
• Signetics

High-Risk Jobs Associated With Pittsburgh Corning

Pittsburgh Corning used asbestos in its products from 1961 until 1972, endangering thousands of people at its Tyler, Texas, and Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, plants.

But Pittsburgh Corning’s asbestos-contaminated products harmed more than just its employees.

Anyone who regularly came in contact with its products — through installation, maintenance, construction, demolition, or repair — was also at risk.

The PCC asbestos trust recognizes almost 2,000 high-risk professions put in danger by the company’s products.

Jobs at Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure

Other At-Risk Jobs Included:

• Acoustical workers
• Air conditioning mechanics
• Contractors
• Construction workers 
• Bale rollers
• Boiler coverers/tenders
• Caulkers
• Ceiling tile installers
• Electricians
• Enginemen
• Fabricators
• Furnace operators
• Gas welders/welders
• Machinists
• Masonry workers
• Millwrights
• Riggers
• Sandblasters
• Turbine boots
• Wiremen

Asbestos Products Used at Pittsburgh Corning

Pittsburgh Corning’s asbestos products were heavily used in industrial and military settings.

The aviation, petrochemical, metalsmithing, maritime, and construction industries used asbestos-containing products produced by PCC.

The Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Trust maintains a list of nearly 1,000 locations where their products were used or manufactured. Anyone with significant exposure is at risk of an asbestos-related illness.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products Used at Pittsburgh Corning:

• Temp-mat asbestos blanket
• High-temperature pipe insulation
• Rubberized gaskets
• Molded sheet insulation
• Molded block insulation

The Formation of the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Asbestos PI Settlement Trust

Pittsburgh Corning filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2000 after being overwhelmed with asbestos-related legal claims.

After 16 years of legal wrangling, the courts accepted the reorganization plan, which included the trust funding agreement, in 2016.

There is ample court-substantiated evidence that Pittsburgh Corning knew about the dangers of asbestos but continued to use it in its products until ordered to stop.

PCC created the trust to discharge its legal responsibility to compensate those harmed by its negligence.

Eligibility Requirements for the Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Trust

Before receiving payment from the trust, claimants must prove their eligibility. The Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust requires all claimants to meet their medical and exposure criteria.

In addition to the substantial documentation required, claimants must file within the statute of limitations, or the claim will not succeed.

Medical Requirements

• A diagnosis of a scheduled condition by a doctor or pathologist
• Evidence of the condition substantiated by documentation
  • X-rays
  • CAT scans
  • Pathology report
  • Pleural function testing
• A 10-year latency
• Supporting medical documentation linking the illness to asbestos exposure

Exposure Requirements

• Six months of exposure to PCC products prior to December 31, 1982, or six months of Unibestos exposure during the period of July 31, 1962, to December 31, 1972;
• Significant occupational exposure or five years of cumulative exposure to asbestos

Documents to help prove exposure requirements include:

• Witness statements
• Military service records
• Employment records
• Insurance records

Pittsburgh Corning Asbestos Trust Payment Percentage & Compensation

The Pittsburgh Corning Trust, like other asbestos trust funds, pays a percentage of the amount awarded. The Pittsburgh Corning pays 24.5% as of July 2024.

The trust also developed a 60/40 split for claims on malignant and nonmalignant diseases.

That is, 60% of the overall trust money goes to malignant patients, and 40% goes to nonmalignant patients.

The split allows the trustees to distribute the money more evenly to claimants with the most severe illnesses.

The trust also established two types of review procedures — expedited and individual — so claimants can have equitable access to compensation, depending on their situations. 

Expedited Review

Most claimants choose expedited review (ER), which is designed to provide quick access to compensation.

Anyone who can prove they meet the medical and exposure criteria receives a guaranteed amount, called the scheduled value.

Expedited review is only available for seven of the eight asbestos-related illnesses recognized by the trust. Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI) requires an individual review.

This review type is preferable for those with solid documentation who need funds quickly to meet pressing financial needs following their diagnosis.

Disease	Scheduled Value
Mesothelioma (Level VIII)	$175,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$47,500
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI)	$0
Other Cancer (Level V)	$27,500
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)s	$47,500
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III)	$11,750
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$5,500
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I)	$400

Individual Review

Individuals who do not meet any disease level’s medical and exposure criteria can elect for an individual review (IR).

The amount of compensation depends on several factors determined by the trustees, including:

• Age
• Degree of exposure
• Level of disability
• Loss of income

Individual review takes longer, and the result is not guaranteed. Successful claimants may receive more or less than the scheduled value of an expedited review claim.

Because claim values differ per claimant circumstance, the trust does not publish specific values for individual review claims. However, they have established each disease level’s average and maximum values.

Disease	Average Value	Maximum Value
Mesothelioma (Level VIII)	$200,000	$200,000
Lung Cancer 1 (Level VII)	$50,000	$50,000
Lung Cancer 2 (Level VI)	$20,000	$20,000
Other Cancer (Level V)	$30,000	$30,000
Severe Asbestosis (Level IV)s	$50,000	$50,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level III)	$12,500	$12,500
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level II)	$6,000	$6,000
Asbestosis/Pleural Disease (Level I)	$0	$0

Filing a Personal Injury Claim Against Pittsburgh Corning

Filing a complete claim requires time, energy, and significant documentation. Speed is crucial when filing as the PCC Trust has a Maximum Annual Payment (MAP) that they cannot exceed.

Once the MAP has been met, all unhandled claims are rolled over to the following year.

To file a claim, claimants must:

1. Choose between expedited and individual review
2. File a complete claim form
3. Submit the required supporting documentation
4. Provide any additional requested proof or clarification 

All claims must be submitted within the statute of limitations. Claimants can file electronically or via hardcopy.

Loved Ones & Family Members 

Not everyone who files a claim is a direct victim of asbestos exposure.

Family members and loved ones may need to apply on behalf of a victim who is too ill or who has already passed away.

Watching someone you love suffer from an illness caused by corporate negligence is emotionally and financially draining. Dealing with burdensome paperwork and legal wrangling simultaneously can be too much to cope with alone.

Working with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who can assist with all aspects of gathering documentation and filing may help ease this burden.

Not only that but seeking legal guidance may also help victims receive the maximum amount of compensation in the least amount of time.

To learn about your options, contact us today.