What Is the General Motors Asbestos Trust?
For more than 50 years, General Motors used asbestos-containing auto parts in their cars, trucks, and buses. As a result, many GM workers and employees in the auto industry developed asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
In 1977, GM was named in the first of more than 40,000 asbestos lawsuits, which prompted the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and set money aside in an asbestos trust for current and future victims.
About the General Motors Asbestos Trust Fund
- In 2011, General Motors established the Motors Liquidation Company Asbestos Personal Injury Trust after the company and 3 affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009.
- Asbestos in high-friction GM automotive products like brake pads and clutches helped protect from extreme heat, while asbestos-containing packing insulated gaskets and valves.
- GM factory workers, mechanics, brake technicians, and car hobbyists are most likely to have been exposed to the automaker's asbestos-containing products.
- The General Motors asbestos trust was funded with about $625 Million.
- General Motors asbestos victims diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases, as well as their family members may be entitled to compensation.
Many mesothelioma victims are entitled to payouts from multiple trusts, as well as legal claims. Mesothelioma trust funds award an average of $300,000 to $400,000 total, providing the financial support that's often needed during this challenging time.
At Sokolove Law, many of our clients start receiving asbestos claim payouts in as few as 90 days of contacting our team. We’ll fight to access the compensation you deserve as quickly as possible.
Since 1979, Sokolove Law has secured over $5.3 Billion for thousands of mesothelioma victims and their families.
Get a Free Case Review
General Motors Asbestos Products
In 1886, the Flint Road Cart Company, helmed by Josiah Dallas Dort, began building horse-drawn carriages and grew into one of the world's largest carriage manufacturers. In 1904, Dort took over at Buick Motor Co. in Flint, Michigan and later founded General Motors.
Over the years, General Motors sold various automobile brands, including Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac, and Cadillac. Asbestos was often found lurking in brake linings, gaskets, and other auto parts.
General Motors asbestos products included:
- Brakes and brake pads
- Clutches and clutch facings
- Gaskets
- Electro-Motive railroad friction products
- Marine engines
- Packing
- Valves
Asbestos allowed car and truck parts to withstand the high heat generated by friction. However, those who worked with or near GM asbestos products could have inhaled or swallowed microscopic fibers during installation, repair, or replacement.
Anyone exposed to asbestos is at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma 20-50 years later. A General Motors asbestos claim allows victims to hold General Motors and other asbestos-related companies accountable.
History of General Motors Asbestos Lawsuits & Liability
Until GM filed for bankruptcy, the company was hit with lawsuits filed by factory workers, mechanics, and others who had been sickened by asbestos linked to the company.
From 1990 to 1999, the company averaged about 40 asbestos claims per year. However, between 2002 and 2008, this number skyrocketed to more than 850 claims per year.
Some GM plants were riddled with asbestos. For example, General Motors in Vandalia, Ohio manufactured asbestos-laden brake shoes. Employees used machinery to open and empty bags of asbestos, causing fibers to become airborne, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Overall, 632 General Motors facilities across 25 states have been linked to asbestos, with 221 facilities in Michigan, 110 in Ohio, 62 in Indiana, 39 in New York, and 36 in California. The majority of GM asbestos exposure work sites are associated with the Fisher Body Division.
Pressured by asbestos lawsuits and other liabilities, GM and some of their subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy. After corporate restructuring, the Motors Liquidation Company Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was formed to pay current and future mesothelioma victims.
$40 Million General Motors Asbestos Lawsuit Verdict for Mechanic
A Delaware jury awarded $40.6 Million to the wife of a New Mexico mechanic who passed away from mesothelioma linked to asbestos-containing brakes and clutches.
The lawsuit alleged that the man had not been warned about asbestos in the products he handled and worked around. In addition to General Motors, the lawsuit named Ford, Johns Manville, and over a dozen other companies as defendants.
General Motors was found 20% responsible for the man's asbestos exposure and disease.
$3 Million Asbestos Verdict for General Motors Employee
A New York jury awarded $3 Million to the family of a General Motors employee who died of mesothelioma at age 77 due to on-the-job asbestos exposure.
The man worked at the automaker’s GM Powertrain Facility from 1964 to 1979, repairing Crane Co. valves. During repairs, he regularly removed asbestos gaskets, causing him to inhale asbestos dust, according to reports.
$30 Million GM Asbestos Lawsuit Verdict for Warehouse Worker
A New Jersey jury awarded $30.3 Million to the family of a 50-year-old man who died from mesothelioma. The man had handled asbestos-containing auto parts while working summers at GM warehouses, including one in Bloomfield.
The victim may have also been exposed secondhand to asbestos fibers that his father and brother, who also worked at GM facilities, unknowingly brought home on their work clothes, according to the lawsuit.
The defendants included Asbestos Corp. Ltd. of Canada, which provided material for GM brakes, and BorgWarner Inc. of Michigan, which manufactured clutches. At the time, the GM asbestos verdict was believed to be the largest in the state for mesothelioma.
General Motors Asbestos Settlement for Wrongful Death
The wife of a man who worked at a General Motors plant in Defiance, Ohio and later died of lung cancer has been resolved through a GM asbestos settlement.
The woman had sought survivor benefits through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and later filed a GM asbestos lawsuit after the company appealed the Ohio Industrial Commission's decision allowing her claim.
The case is one of several filed by the families of Ohio GM employees who passed away from asbestos illnesses tied to their work.
Call (800) 647-3434 now to find out if you may qualify for compensation. There is an estimated $30 Billion available across all asbestos trust funds.
Who Can File a GM Asbestos Trust Claim?
The Motors Liquidation Company trust evaluates and pays claims filed by victims diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases linked to GM products and facilities, as well as those of their subsidiaries. Family members may also be able to file.
You may be able to file a GM asbestos trust fund claim if:
- You were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or a related disease
- A family member was diagnosed with or died from mesothelioma or another asbestos-caused illness
- You are a representative of the victim's estate
At Sokolove Law, our asbestos attorneys provide free case reviews, so families can find out whether they may be owed compensation from the GM asbestos trust fund.
We can also evaluate your eligibility for other sources of compensation, increasing the amount of money you may receive.
Since 1979, Sokolove Law has secured over $5.3 Billion for thousands of mesothelioma victims and their families.
Contact Us Now
John & Dee Sokolove Law ClientsJobs at Risk for General Motors Asbestos Exposure
For decades, asbestos-containing products could be found in GM plants, cars, trucks, and buses. While anyone who worked in the company's facilities or on GM vehicles risked exposure, certain workers were exposed daily — increasing their risk of becoming sick.
High-risk jobs included:
- Auto mechanics
- Auto body repairmen
- Aviation workers
- Brake mechanics
- Clutch repair workers
- Electricians
- Janitors and laborers
- GM factory workers
- Machinists
- Parts department employees
- Railroad workers
- Truck drivers
- Veterans
- Warehouse workers
Even today, antique car hobbyists can come in contact with asbestos while repairing or renovating older GM vehicles that still contain asbestos-containing parts.
How to File a GM Asbestos Trust Claim
The General Motors asbestos trust has guidelines that must be followed to seek a payout. While the process may seem intimidating, the asbestos lawyers at Sokolove Law can handle all of the work, making filing as easy and hassle-free as possible.
When filing a General Motors asbestos claim, our team can help:
- Gather documentation: Our mesothelioma attorneys can collect medical records and asbestos exposure evidence tied to General Motors and their subsidiaries.
- File your GM asbestos claim: We will prepare and file the paperwork for your claim with the Motors Liquidation Company Asbestos Personal Injury Trust, plus any other trusts that may be eligible for.
- Advise on the type of review: The trust's administrators will review your claim using either an Expedited Review or an Individual Review. Your legal team can explain the option that may result in the best outcome for your case.
- Secure a payout: Once your claim is approved and liquidated, the trust will issue a payout depending on the value assigned to your asbestos-related disease.
- Pursue additional compensation: Many mesothelioma victims were exposed to multiple asbestos-containing products. Our team can help identify all of the companies responsible for your exposure and seek compensation from each.
"Getting those checks meant our kids will be taken care of. They’ve given my husband peace of mind knowing there's money there for his family. That was really important to both of us.”
– Dee, Wife of a Mesothelioma Patient & Firm Client
Asbestos trust fund claims have deadlines known as statutes of limitations, which limit how long you have to file a claim and pursue compensation. This deadline usually starts when a patient is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or dies.
General Motors Asbestos Trust Payouts
Many automotive companies like General Motors set up trusts to pay current and future victims harmed by their products. These funds provide different payments based on a patient's disease, job, and the type of review used to evaluate the claim.
Payouts are calculated using a payment percentage system, which ensures that money is left to pay future claimants over time. However, percentage amounts and other claim specifics are subject to change.
GM asbestos trust payouts include:
| Disease | Scheduled Value for Auto Mechanic | Average Value for Auto Mechanic | Maximum Value for Auto Mechanic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesothelioma | $175,000 | $220,000 | $525,000 |
| Lung Cancer | Up to $50,000 | $16,000 to $80,000 | $140,000 |
| Other Cancers | $10,000 | $16,000 | $40,000 |
| Severe Asbestosis | $50,000 | $80,000 | $140,000 |
The General Motors asbestos trust payment percentage is 10.3% of the settlement value, so a mechanic with a maximum value mesothelioma claim would receive $54,075.
Including payments from additional asbestos claims, many families receive over $1 Million total in financial assistance. We can help maximize potential payouts by pursuing compensation from every available source.
“Today, billions of dollars are potentially available across dozens of trusts. Our asbestos attorneys can determine if you’re eligible for trust fund compensation and file claims on your behalf while also pursuing money from lawsuits if you’re eligible."
– Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney of Sokolove Law
Pursue General Motors Asbestos Trust Settlements
A diagnosis linked to asbestos exposure can turn your life upside down. Between medical care, lost income, and questions about what comes next, it can feel like everything is uncertain.
As a national asbestos law firm, Sokolove Law knows how to investigate exposure tied to automotive companies like General Motors and identify all potential sources of compensation, including asbestos trust funds and other claims.
For more than 45 years, we've secured over $5.3 Billion total for patients and families affected by mesothelioma.
Our team can handle every step of the legal process for you, so you can focus on your health and your family during this difficult time.
Call (800) 647-3434 right now or fill out our form to find out if you may be eligible for a payout from the General Motors asbestos trust.
General Motors Asbestos Trust FAQs
Did General Motors file for bankruptcy?
Yes. In 2009, General Motors filed for bankruptcy after facing more than 40,000 asbestos lawsuits and other liabilities. GM used asbestos-containing products in their vehicles and plants, and thousands of workers got sick as a result.
A Chapter 11 restructuring allowed GM to reorganize and continue operating. As part of that process, many of General Motors’ liabilities, including their asbestos-related claims, were transferred to a separate entity known as Motors Liquidation Company.
Today, those who have been harmed can file a claim for compensation. See if you're eligible for a payout from the General Motors asbestos trust.
What is the average payout for the General Motors asbestos trust?
The average payout from the General Motors asbestos trust depends on factors like the type of disease, the claimant's job, and the trust’s current payment percentage. Typically, those who worked as mechanics and developed mesothelioma receive the largest payouts.
The average mesothelioma payout is over $1 Million for patients and families, with payouts usually coming from multiple trust funds and asbestos-related companies.
What is the current payment percentage for the GM asbestos trust?
As of this date, the GM asbestos trust pays 10.3% of a claim’s full value, meaning compensation is reduced to ensure funds remain available for future victims.
What is the average payout from asbestos claims?
The average payout from asbestos claims is over $1 Million for patients with illnesses like mesothelioma. Victims are often eligible for $300,000 to $400,000 from asbestos trust fund claims alone.
This compensation can help cover treatment expenses and provide peace of mind as families navigate life after a diagnosis.
How long does it take to get a General Motors asbestos trust payout?
While each case is unique, timelines may vary based on the type of review and other factors. Expedited review claims are typically resolved more quickly, while individual review claims may take longer due to the more detailed evaluation involved.
However, many Sokolove Law clients begin receiving payouts in as few as 90 days, providing quick access to much-needed financial support. Contact us now to see if we can seek trust fund payouts for you.
