$3.3M Ford Asbestos Brake Verdict Upheld in NY

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the peritoneum, the thin tissue lining the abdomen. It is caused by asbestos fibers that are ingested or inhaled and migrate to the abdominal cavity. It is rarer than pleural mesothelioma but shares the same connection to asbestos exposure.

Court records in this case show that Ford’s brake products contained chrysotile asbestos, also known as white asbestos, at concentrations ranging from 25% to 50%.

Joseph Skrzynski worked at a Ford dealership parts department from 1975 to 1980. His mesothelioma diagnosis came in 2021, reflecting the disease’s characteristic latency period of several decades.

The New York Appellate Division, Fourth Department, upheld the jury’s $3.3 million verdict in July 2025, rejecting Ford’s arguments for reversal and affirming the findings that Ford was negligent and that its brake products were a significant contributing factor to the plaintiff’s illness.

Most U.S. auto manufacturers stopped using asbestos in brake pads during the 1980s and 1990s. However, asbestos was not formally banned in brake pads until the EPA finalized a prohibition in March 2024. Older vehicles manufactured before the 1990s may still contain asbestos-containing brake components, and aftermarket brake parts with asbestos remained legal to sell in the U.S. until the 2024 ban. Internationally, asbestos is still used in brake pads and related automotive materials in some countries.

You cannot visually identify whether brake pads contain asbestos by looking at them. For newer vehicles, check the packaging, labels, or Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the manufacturer or auto parts retailer. For older vehicles or those with replaced brakes, this information may not be readily available. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that mechanics assume all brakes contain asbestos and use proper dust control procedures, since worn asbestos and non-asbestos brake types cannot be distinguished by appearance. If you suspect asbestos exposure from brake work, consult a healthcare provider about screening options.

Ford Motor Company used asbestos in automotive parts such as brake linings, brake pads, clutches, gaskets, engine components, and hood liners from 1903 until phasing it out in the early 1980s, with some replacement parts available until at least 2001. Mechanics, factory workers, and consumers faced exposure risks from these friction products, which contained 40-60% chrysotile asbestos by weight and released fibers during grinding or sanding. Ford does not currently use asbestos in its vehicles or parts. People with mesothelioma linked to Ford products have pursued claims, with one jury awarding $34 million against the company.

No level of asbestos exposure is safe, but 30 minutes of exposure carries a low risk of causing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, as risk follows a dose-response relationship tied more to long-term occupational exposure. OSHA notes short exposures as brief as a few days can cause mesothelioma, yet evidence shows one-time or brief incidents like 30 minutes are unlikely to harm unless involving high fiber concentrations, poor ventilation, or amphibole asbestos types. Factors such as visible dust or enclosed spaces elevate potential harm, while intact materials outdoors pose minimal threat. People with any exposure history report details to physicians, as diseases may appear 20-50 years later.