Massachusetts workers, particularly those from Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, and the textile and paper mills of Lowell, Lawrence, Fall River, and New Bedford, have some of the strongest asbestos trust fund claims in the country. A shipyard worker’s daily contact with asbestos pipe covering, boiler lagging, gaskets, and fireproofing from multiple manufacturers means their claim can reach across many trusts simultaneously.
More than $30 billion remains in 60+ active trusts. These trusts accept new claims and pay qualifying claimants on a rolling basis. For Massachusetts families dealing with the state’s above-average mesothelioma rate, trust fund claims represent a significant and accessible source of compensation alongside any lawsuit recovery.
Trusts Most Relevant to Massachusetts Workers
| Trust | Products/Industry | Massachusetts Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Johns-Manville Trust | Pipe insulation, building products | Used in shipyards, mills, and factories statewide |
| Owens Corning/Fibreboard Trust | Insulation, roofing | Present in industrial and commercial buildings |
| Pittsburgh Corning Trust | Glass block, pipe insulation (UNIBESTOS) | Used in Fore River and Charlestown vessels, mill steam systems |
| Babcock & Wilcox Trust | Boilers, power generation | Navy shipboard boilers, mill and power plant systems |
| Combustion Engineering Trust | Power plant equipment | Industrial boiler systems across Massachusetts |
| Garlock Sealing Technologies (GST Settlement Facility) | Gaskets, packing, seals | Shipboard machinery, mill pump and valve maintenance |
| Harbison-Walker Trust | Refractories | Mill and industrial furnace linings |
| U.S. Gypsum Trust | Joint compound, construction products | Commercial and residential construction |
Shipyard Workers
Fore River Shipyard in Quincy and Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston employed tens of thousands of workers across the 20th century, with peak employment of approximately 32,000 at Fore River during the WWII buildup and roughly 50,000 at Charlestown during the same era. Shipbuilding and repair used asbestos from dozens of manufacturers for pipe insulation, boiler lagging, gaskets, turbine wrapping, fireproofing cements, electrical equipment, and fireproof bulkheads.
These workers often qualify for the highest number of trust fund claims because a single vessel contained products from 20 or more manufacturers. The same trust eligibility patterns apply to shipyard workers at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington, where identical products were used in vessel construction.
Pittsburgh Corning’s UNIBESTOS pipe insulation and Babcock & Wilcox boilers were standard on Navy vessels, making both trusts particularly relevant for Massachusetts shipyard claimants.
Textile and Paper Mill Workers
Textile mills in Lowell, Lawrence, Fall River, and New Bedford, and paper mills along the Merrimack River, ran on steam. Steam ran through asbestos-insulated pipes, sealed with asbestos gaskets and packing. Mill workers who spent decades handling these components often qualify for claims with trusts including the GST Settlement Facility (Garlock Sealing Technologies), Johns-Manville, and Pittsburgh Corning.
Construction Tradespeople
Insulators, pipefitters, and electricians who worked on pre-1980 commercial and public buildings throughout Massachusetts were exposed to products from multiple manufacturers. Pipe insulation, joint compound, floor tiles, and fireproofing each came from different companies with separate trusts. These high-risk occupations account for a disproportionate share of trust fund claims nationwide.
Navy Veterans
Massachusetts’s military shipbuilding history means a significant share of trust fund claimants are Navy veterans. Veterans qualify for trust fund recovery in addition to VA benefits, and filing one does not affect the other. Shipboard exposure, particularly in enclosed engine and boiler rooms, typically supports claims against multiple trusts tied to shipboard equipment manufacturers.
Filing Process
- Diagnosis documentation. Pathology reports confirming mesothelioma.
- Exposure evidence. Work history placing the claimant at sites where specific products were used, including shipyard records, union records, and military service records.
- Claim submission. Forms filed with each applicable trust.
- Review and payment. Trusts review and pay claims, typically within three to 12 months.
Most trusts offer expedited review for people with mesothelioma. This can shorten processing to two to three months for qualifying claims.
Trust Claims and Other Compensation
Trust fund claims are independent of other compensation sources. Filing a trust claim does not reduce, offset, or affect:
- Lawsuit settlements or verdicts, including recent Massachusetts talc outcomes like the $42.6 million Lovell verdict and the $8 million Paluzzi verdict
- VA disability benefits for veterans exposed during military service
- Workers’ compensation claims through the state system
Most families pursue all applicable sources simultaneously.
How much can Massachusetts workers receive from trust funds?▼
Individual trust claims vary widely based on each trust’s scheduled value and payment percentage. Because most people with mesothelioma, especially Fore River and Charlestown Navy Yard workers, qualify for 15 or more trusts simultaneously, combined recoveries can be substantial. An attorney can review work history to identify all applicable trusts.
Do shipyard workers have stronger trust claims?▼
Generally yes. A single Navy vessel contained asbestos products from 20 or more manufacturers, which means a single worker can file claims with 15 to 25 trusts. Workers in industries with fewer asbestos product sources may qualify for fewer trusts.
Are trust claims relevant for textile and paper mill workers?▼
Yes. Massachusetts mill workers handled asbestos-insulated steam pipes, gaskets, and packing across decades of work. Trusts for pipe insulation, gasket, and packing manufacturers (Johns-Manville, Pittsburgh Corning, and the GST Settlement Facility) are commonly claimed by mill workers.
Is there a deadline to file trust fund claims?▼
Each trust has its own filing deadlines, which vary. Filing promptly after diagnosis is recommended to preserve all options. Massachusetts’s three-year statute of limitations for lawsuits does not directly govern trust claims, but early filing is still advisable.
Can family members file trust fund claims?▼
Yes. If the person with mesothelioma has died, family members or estate representatives can file claims on their behalf. Most trusts accept wrongful death claims.
Do trust fund payments affect my lawsuit?▼
Trust fund claims and lawsuits proceed independently. Filing trust claims does not reduce any lawsuit settlement or verdict. Most families pursue both at the same time.
References
U.S. Courts. U.S. Courts Asbestos Bankruptcy Information.
https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/asbestos
RAND Corporation. RAND Institute Report on Asbestos Trust Fund Payments.
https://www.rand.org/topics/asbestos.html
Thornton Law Firm. Fore River Shipyard Asbestos Fact Sheet.
https://www.tenlaw.com/services/fore-river-shipyard-asbestos-fact-sheet/