NARCO Asbestos Trust

What Is the NARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Trust?

North American Refractories Company (NARCO) was a leading manufacturer of refractory products designed to withstand extreme temperatures in steel mills, foundries, power plants, refineries, and other industrial settings.

Many NARCO products contained asbestos, exposing workers to dangerous fibers that could later cause serious diseases. Many sickened workers fought back by filing asbestos lawsuits.

As a result, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, leading to the creation of the NARCO Asbestos Trust to compensate current and future victims.

About the NARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust

• Asbestos-related litigation charges tied to NARCO grew from $7 Million in 2000 to $159 Million in 2001, before surging to $1.548 Billion in 2002.
• In 2002, NARCO filed for bankruptcy after facing over 292,000 asbestos claims, establishing the NARCO Asbestos Trust in 2013 as part of that process.
•  At the time of NARCO's bankruptcy filing, Honeywell projected they would pay more than $3.3 Billion in NARCO-related asbestos claims through 2018, according to SEC filings.
• Steelworkers, furnace workers, foundry employees, pipefitters, boilermakers, maintenance workers, and construction workers are among those most commonly affected by NARCO asbestos exposure.
• Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other qualifying asbestos-related illnesses may be eligible to pursue compensation through the trust. Surviving family members may also qualify for payouts.
• The NARCO asbestos trust payment percentage is 100% of the claim's approved value.
• The NARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust had an initial valuation of $6.32 Billion and continues to review claims from victims and their families.

Over $30 Billion is believed to still be available across all asbestos trusts, including NARCO's, and mesothelioma victims recover more than $1 Million on average. Compensation can help cover medical expenses, lost income, and more.

For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has helped families affected by asbestos exposure pursue compensation. In many cases, our clients begin receiving asbestos claim payments in as few as 90 days.

NARCO Asbestos Products

North American Refractories Company was founded in 1929, when a Pennsylvania firebrick company merged with an Ohio firebrick company. The company grew quickly, acquired smaller companies, and expanded their line of refractory products.

In 1979, Honeywell predecessor Allied Chemical bought NARCO. However, from 1957 to 1978, the company's asbestos-containing products could be found in steel mills, foundries, power plants, refineries, chemical plants, and manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S.

NARCO asbestos products included:

• Aerogun
• BOF-Cote and BOF-Patch
• CM Gun Mix, CM-18 Gun Mix, and MC-Gun Mix
• Narcocrete Trowel
• Narcogun CM-343, Narcogun C.O., Narcogun CR-346
• Narcolite
• Narmag 60 DBRC and Narmag OH Gun Mix
• Stazon
• Super 505 Hot Gun C
• Unicote
• W0-339 MC Gun

Because asbestos was highly resistant to heat, corrosion, and chemical damage, it became a common ingredient in refractory materials for decades. Unfortunately, workers who handled or worked around NARCO products often did so without adequate warnings or protective equipment.

Asbestos-related diseases typically take decades to develop, with mesothelioma often appearing 20 to 50 years after exposure. Through asbestos claims, victims can seek accountability from NARCO and other asbestos-related companies that put profits over people.

History of NARCO Asbestos Lawsuits

The NARCO Asbestos Trust was established through the company's bankruptcy reorganization to compensate current and future victims. Since opening, the trust has processed thousands of claims from workers and families affected by asbestos exposure.

NARCO had resolved approximately 176,000 claims through the date of the company's bankruptcy filing, at an average cost per claim of $2,200. As of the filing date, there were approximately 116,000 remaining claims pending against NARCO, including approximately 7% in which Honeywell was also named as a defendant.

Nearly a third of all confirmed NARCO asbestos exposure job sites were in Texas, due to the company's petrochemical and steel industries. Pennsylvania had 85 NARCO asbestos work sites, followed by Ohio with 66, New York with 45, and Alabama with 44.

As for individual companies, 18 U.S. Steel workplaces were known to have used asbestos-containing NARCO products, followed by Reynolds Aluminum and General Motors with 13, DuPont with 11, and International Paper with 10.

Because NARCO products were often used in heavy industrial settings, many workers may have been exposed to asbestos from multiple manufacturers. Those who developed asbestos-related illnesses may qualify to file claims with several asbestos trust funds in addition to the NARCO asbestos trust.

$130 Million NARCO Asbestos Verdict for 5 Alabama Workers

Five former workers from the U.S. Pipe plant in Birmingham, Alabama were awarded a $130 Million verdict in an asbestos lawsuit that named NARCO and other companies.

According to court records, all five workers were diagnosed with asbestosis, while four later developed cancer, including lung cancer and colon cancer. Two of the victims died from their illnesses.

The jury in Orange County, Texas found in favor of the workers and their families, awarding substantial compensation for their injuries and losses. The case, Bell v. Dresser Industries, underscores the health consequences many industrial workers experienced decades after their exposure.

$7 Million NARCO Mesothelioma Verdict for Alabama Power Plant Workers

Two Alabama power plant engineers and their wives sued NARCO and 23 other asbestos-related companies after both men developed mesothelioma following years of occupational asbestos exposure. One of the workers was also diagnosed with asbestosis.

The lawsuit alleged that NARCO failed to warn workers about the dangers associated with their asbestos-containing products despite knowledge of the health risks.

After a jury awarded $7 Million for personal injuries and loss of services, NARCO appealed. The Texas Court of Appeals upheld the mesothelioma verdict, finding sufficient evidence that NARCO's products contributed to the workers' asbestos exposure and illnesses.

$1.3 Billion NARCO Honeywell Asbestos Settlement

NARCO's former parent company, Honeywell International, agreed to make a one-time payment of approximately $1.3 Billion to the NARCO asbestos trust. The agreement resolved Honeywell's ongoing obligation to fund asbestos claims tied to NARCO products.

The asbestos settlement significantly strengthened the trust's ability to compensate current and future asbestos victims. Honeywell had been required to fund NARCO asbestos claims on an ongoing basis, but the lump-sum payment ended that obligation while ensuring funds remain available.

Who Can File a North American Refractories Asbestos Trust Claim?

The North American Refractories asbestos trust reviews claims and provides compensation to individuals diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases linked to exposure to NARCO products. In certain situations, family members may also be eligible to pursue a claim.

You may be able to file a NARCO asbestos trust claim if:

• You or a loved one worked with or around NARCO asbestos-containing products
• You were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another qualifying asbestos-related disease
• A family member was diagnosed with or died from an asbestos-related illness linked to NARCO exposure
• You are the legal representative of an asbestos victim's estate

At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma lawyers provide free case reviews, so families can find out their eligibility for a NARCO asbestos trust payout without any financial risk.

Our team can also determine whether you qualify for compensation from other asbestos trust funds or legal claims, which may increase your total recovery.

Who Was Affected by NARCO Asbestos Exposure?

For decades, NARCO asbestos-containing refractory products were used in high-temperature industrial environments across the country. Workers who manufactured, installed, repaired, removed, or worked near these materials often faced the greatest risk of exposure.

High-risk jobs included:

• Boilermakers
• Bricklayers and refractory workers
• Coke workers
• Furnace installers and repair workers
• Foundry workers
• Heat treaters and heating system workers
• Industrial maintenance workers
• Insulators and insulation workers
• Masons and mason tenders
• Pipefitters
• Pot room workers
• Power plant workers
• Refinery workers
• Steel mill workers
• Welders
• U.S. military veterans

Even workers who did not handle NARCO products directly could have been exposed when asbestos-containing materials were cut, removed, repaired, or replaced nearby.

In some cases, family members were also exposed through asbestos fibers carried home on work clothing or tools.

How to File a NARCO Asbestos Trust Claim

The North American Refractories Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust has established procedures for filing a claim and seeking compensation. The asbestos lawyers at Sokolove Law can manage each step, making the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

When filing a Narco Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust​ claim, our team can help:

1. Gather evidence: Our mesothelioma lawyers can investigate your case by collecting medical records and asbestos exposure documentation linked to NARCO asbestos products.
2. File your NARCO refractory asbestos claim: We will prepare the paperwork for your claim and submit it to the NARCO asbestos trust, as well as any other trust funds that you may qualify for.
3. Recommend the review type: The trust's administrators will review your claim via an Expedited Review or Individual Review. Your legal team can suggest the option that may be best for your family.
4. Receive a payout: Once your claim is approved and liquidated, the trust will issue a payment based on the individual factors in your case.
5. Seek additional compensation: Many mesothelioma victims were exposed to multiple asbestos products. Our team can pinpoint all the products that contributed to your illness, identify the companies that made them, and seek compensation from each.

"The process was not difficult at all. The majority of the settlements came in within the first year or so.”
– Kelly, Daughter of a Refinery Worker with Mesothelioma & Firm Client

Asbestos trust fund claims have their own statutes of limitations, which limit how much time you have to file a claim and seek compensation. Missing this deadline may jeopardize your ability to access a payout.

NARCO Asbestos Trust Payouts

Dozens of asbestos-related companies like NARCO were ordered to set up trust funds to compensate victims injured by their products. These funds provide different payouts depending on a patient's disease, stage, and the type of review used.

NARCO asbestos trust payouts may include:

While many other trust funds calculate payouts using a payment percentage, the NARCO asbestos trust payment percentage is 100% of a claim's scheduled value. Percentage amounts and other specifics are subject to change over time.

Combined with payments from additional asbestos claims, families assisted by our team are often able to access over $1 Million total in financial support, providing peace of mind after a diagnosis.

NARCO Asbestos Trust Payment Percentage

When an asbestos trust is established, it assigns a scheduled value to each disease level. The payment percentage determines how much of that value a claimant actually receives.

The NARCO asbestos trust currently pays 100% of an approved claim’s value, which means eligible victims receive the full scheduled value of their claim, not a reduced portion of it.

Many asbestos trusts pay only a fraction of the scheduled value, because their funds must stretch across thousands of claimants. As a result, NARCO claims may be particularly valuable for asbestos victims seeking compensation.

Get Help Seeking Compensation for Asbestos Exposure

An asbestos-related diagnosis can change everything. Between medical bills, lost income, and the emotional toll of mesothelioma or another serious illness, many families are left wondering where to turn for help.

As a national asbestos law firm, Sokolove Law has been fighting for asbestos victims and their loved ones for more than 45 years. Our team can help pursue compensation through the NARCO asbestos trust, other trust funds, and additional legal claims that may be available to you.

We've recovered over $5.5 Billion for mesothelioma patients and their families nationwide. Our asbestos attorneys can investigate where and how you were exposed, identify all potentially responsible companies, and handle the claims process from start to finish.

While you focus on treatment and spending time with loved ones, we'll focus on securing the compensation you deserve.

Call (800) 647-3434 right now or fill out our online form to find out if you may qualify for compensation from the NARCO asbestos trust.

North American Refractories Asbestos Trust FAQs