Burns and Roe Asbestos Trust

What Is the Burns and Roe Asbestos Trust?

From the 1930s through the early 1980s, asbestos-containing materials products were present at power plants, military installations, and industrial facilities built by Burns and Roe Enterprises and their affiliate, Burns and Roe Construction Group.

Many workers who handled or worked near these products were later diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, leading to about 12,000 asbestos lawsuits. Ultimately, Burns and Roe filed for bankruptcy protection and established an asbestos trust to pay current and future victims.

About the Burns and Roe Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust

• The Burns and Roe asbestos trust was established in 2009 after the company reorganized through bankruptcy to lessen the damage from the asbestos claims that had been filed against them.
• Burns and Roe didn't manufacture or sell asbestos products, but instead, built power plants and other industrial facilities where asbestos-containing insulation and fireproofing materials were installed, causing their own employees and other workers to be exposed on the job.
• Those most likely to be affected would be tradespeople who installed, maintained, or removed insulation and fireproofing on hot equipment at the plants Burns and Roe built. This includes boilermakers, pipefitters, insulators, electricians, and engineers or supervisors present during construction.
• The Burns and Roe asbestos trust was initially funded with $172 Million, and compensation is still available for victims and their families.

Many workers are eligible to seek payouts from asbestos trust funds as well as lawsuits. Depending on factors like a patient's diagnosis and extent of asbestos exposure, total compensation often exceeds $1 Million on average.

For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has helped families seek compensation for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Many clients begin receiving payments in as few as 90 days.

Burns and Roe Asbestos Products

Founded in 1932 in New Jersey, Burns and Roe was an engineering and construction firm that designed and built power plants and other large industrial facilities that used asbestos-containing products.

Burns and Roe asbestos exposure came through the facilities they built and serviced like power plants, where asbestos-containing materials were installed to withstand high heat. Workers who installed, maintained, or repaired this equipment often suffered repeated asbestos exposure.

Burns and Roe asbestos exposure may be linked to:

• Asbestos-cement board and transite
• Boiler insulation
• Gaskets and packing
• Millboard and tape
• Pipe insulation
• Turbine components
• Refractory cement and firebrick
• Spray-applied fireproofing
• Other high-heat fireproofing materials

Because asbestos could withstand high heat, it was widely used in power generation applications up until the early 1980s, putting thousands of workers in harm's way.

Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses often take 20 to 50 years to become apparent after exposure. Asbestos claims filed with the Burns and Roe Asbestos Trust provide a path to compensation for victims and their families.

History of Burns and Roe Asbestos Lawsuits

Over the years, Burns and Roe was named in approximately 12,000 asbestos personal injury lawsuits alleging that workers and their family members got sick after being exposed to products used to build Burns and Roe construction projects.

Prior to the bankruptcy filing, the total amount paid in asbestos settlements and defense costs on Burns and Roe Enterprises asbestos claims was about $5.7 Million, with Burns and Roe paying about $2.1 Million. Additionally, settlements totaling over $1.8 Million had been reached but not paid.

Worksites at risk for Burns and Roe asbestos exposure include:

• Colgate Palmolive Co.
• Dow Chemical
• Edwards Air Force Base
• General Electric Co.
• General Foods
• Jersey Central Power & Light Co.
• Long Beach Naval Shipyard
• Los Angeles Airport
• Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
• Sikorsky Aircraft
• Union Carbide
• United Airlines
• U.S. Navy Base - Guantanamo Bay
• U.S. Navy Test Facility

Approximately 360 job sites were confirmed by the Burns and Roe asbestos trust as having used asbestos-containing products between 1936 and 1980. Included are nuclear power plants, military installations, and space program facilities.

The list skews heavily toward the Northeast and the West Coast, reflecting where Burns and Roe's engineering work was concentrated: New York had 57 Burns and Roe asbestos exposure workplaces, followed by New Jersey with 48, California with 34, and Pennsylvania with 15.

First Burns and Roe Asbestos Lawsuit Filed

In 1984, the first Burns and Roe asbestos lawsuit was filed, marking the beginning of decades of asbestos litigation against the company.

Over the next 6 years, approximately 150 asbestos lawsuits were filed, with the number of claims increasing sharply throughout the 1990s as additional victims developed mesothelioma from working on Burns and Roe projects.

By the turn of the century, the volume of claims and settlement demands had risen dramatically, contributing to the financial pressures that ultimately led the company to seek bankruptcy protection and establish the Burns and Roe asbestos trust.

Eligibility Requirements for the Burns and Roe Asbestos Trust

The Burns and Roe asbestos trust was created to compensate victims who developed asbestos-related diseases after exposure connected to the company's construction projects. Certain surviving family members and estate representatives may also be eligible for a payout.

You may be able to file a claim with the Burns and Roe asbestos trust if you:

• Suffered asbestos exposure linked to a Burns and Roe facility or project
• Have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease
• Lost a loved one to an asbestos-related illness associated with Burns and Roe asbestos exposure
• Are the personal representative of the estate of a victim who has since passed away

At Sokolove Law, our asbestos attorneys offer free case reviews to determine whether you may qualify for compensation from the Burns and Roe asbestos trust fund, as well as other mesothelioma trusts.

Because many patients qualify for compensation from more than one source, we'll evaluate whether you may be eligible to file claims with other asbestos trusts or pursue compensation from a lawsuit as well.

Jobs at Risk of Burns and Roe Asbestos Exposure

Burns and Roe's construction and engineering work exposed workers at facilities across the country to asbestos-containing insulation and fireproofing materials, putting many of them at risk of harm.

The Burns and Roe asbestos trust recognizes "Significant Occupational Exposure" for anyone who handled raw asbestos fibers, fabricated asbestos-containing products, altered or repaired such products, or worked in close proximity to others doing so for at least 5 cumulative years.

High-risk jobs included:

• Boilermakers
• Construction laborers
• Electricians
• Engineers and supervisors
• General contractors
• Insulators
• Maintenance workers
• Pipefitters
• Power plant operators
• Steamfitters
• U.S. military veterans
• Welders

Given Burns and Roe's extensive work at military installations, the trust's own site list includes dozens of U.S. Air Force bases, U.S. Navy shipyards, and other defense facilities.

Family members may have also experienced secondhand exposure when workers carried home asbestos dust on clothes or tools. Loved ones may have been exposed to the tiny fibers while doing the laundry or other contact, leading to a serious illness decades later.

How to File a Burns & Roe Asbestos Trust Claim

The Burns and Roe asbestos trust has an established claims process for people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases tied to the company's operations.

An experienced asbestos attorney can help you navigate the claims process from start to finish, so you can focus on your health.

When filing a Burns and Roe Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust claim, we can help:

1. Determine your eligibility: We review your work history, medical records, and other evidence to figure out whether you qualify to file a claim with the Burns and Roe asbestos trust and document how your asbestos exposure is connected to the company.
2. Prepare and file your claim: Our attorneys handle the paperwork and supporting documentation needed to submit your Burns and Roe trust claim, as well as claims with any other asbestos trust funds for which you may be eligible.
3. Select the right review option: We'll explain the differences between Expedited Review and Individual Review, answer your questions, and help you choose the option that best matches your situation.
4. Receive your trust payment: If your claim is approved, the Burns and Roe asbestos trust will determine your claim's value and calculate your payment based on the trust's current payment percentage and claims procedures.
5. Pursue every source of compensation: Many workers were exposed to asbestos from multiple companies throughout their careers. We'll identify all potential trust fund claims and legal options to help maximize your total financial recovery.

"Receiving our family’s first settlement check felt surreal and deeply bittersweet. They covered the college expenses for all three of my father’s grandchildren."
– Kelly, Daughter of a Refinery Worker with Mesothelioma & Firm Client

Claims filed with the Burns and Roe asbestos trust are subject to strict filing deadlines. An asbestos attorney can help ensure your claim is filed before the applicable deadline.

Burns and Roe Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust Payout

Like many companies facing significant asbestos liability, Burns and Roe established an asbestos trust through the bankruptcy process to pay those diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases linked to their construction and engineering operations.

Burns and Roe Personal Injury Settlement Trust payouts may include:

Your actual payment is calculated by multiplying the value of your claim by the trust's current payment percentage. The payment percentage may change over time to help preserve enough assets to compensate both current and future claimants.

The current Burns and Roe asbestos trust payment percentage is 36.87% of an approved claim's value. Depending on your work history and asbestos exposure, compensation may be available from multiple companies.

Get Help Seeking Burns and Roe Asbestos Trust Payouts

If your asbestos exposure is connected to Burns and Roe, you may be eligible for compensation through the Burns and Roe asbestos trust and other potential sources.

For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has helped asbestos exposure victims pursue the compensation they deserve. Our asbestos attorneys can investigate your work history, identify where and how your exposure occurred, and determine your legal options.

To date, we've recovered over $5.5 Billion total for asbestos victims and their families. We charge no upfront costs or hourly fees, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Call (800) 647-3434 right now or fill out our free case review form to learn whether you may qualify for compensation from the Burns and Roe asbestos trust fund.

Burns & Roe Asbestos Trust Fund FAQs