Washington’s industrial profile creates a broad base of trust fund eligibility. Workers at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Todd Pacific and Lake Union shipyards, the former Longview Fibre paper mill, Kaiser Aluminum plants, and pre-1980 construction trades each face exposure to products from many different asbestos manufacturers, and those manufacturers have established the bankruptcy trusts that continue to accept claims today.
More than $30 billion remains in 60+ active trusts. These trusts accept new claims and pay qualifying claimants on a rolling basis.
Trusts Most Relevant to Washington Workers
| Trust | Products/Industry | Washington Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Johns-Manville Trust | Pipe insulation, building products | Used in shipyards, paper mills, and construction statewide |
| Pittsburgh Corning Trust | UNIBESTOS pipe insulation, glass block | Standard in shipyards and commercial facilities across the Pacific Northwest |
| Kaiser Aluminum Trust | Refractories, insulation in smelting | Kaiser Aluminum operated plants in Washington |
| Kaiser Gypsum Trust | Joint compound, wallboard | Defendant in Budd v. Kaiser Gypsum in King County |
| Owens Corning / Fibreboard Trust | Insulation, roofing | Present in Washington industrial and commercial buildings |
| Garlock Sealing Technologies Asbestos Settlement Trust | Gaskets, packing, seals | Shipyard and paper mill pump and valve maintenance |
| Babcock & Wilcox Trust | Boilers, power generation | Power plants and paper mill boiler systems |
| Combustion Engineering Trust | Industrial boilers | Paper mills, refineries, and power generation |
| U.S. Gypsum Trust | Joint compound, construction products | Commercial and residential construction statewide |
Shipyard Workers
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard used asbestos products from many different manufacturers, exposing shipyard workers and Navy personnel to multiple trust-eligible products per worker. A single vessel contained pipe insulation, boiler lagging, fireproofing, and gaskets from 20 or more manufacturers. King County shipyards, including Todd Pacific, Lake Union, and Lockheed, followed the same pattern.
The same trust eligibility framework applies to shipyard workers in Pennsylvania at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, to Brooklyn Navy Yard workers in New York, and to Pacific Northwest shipyard workers whose exposure was documented in the $34.2 million John Crane verdict in Portland, Oregon.
Paper Mill Workers
Washington’s pulp and paper mills, including the former Longview Fibre mill in Cowlitz County, used asbestos-containing insulation and gasket products from suppliers including Union Carbide. The Conner King County verdict documented the product pathway from raw asbestos supplier to the mill floor. Paper mill maintenance work on steam lines, digesters, and dryer systems created repeated exposure across decades.
Aluminum Plant Workers
Washington state’s aluminum industry, including Kaiser Aluminum plants, used asbestos-containing refractory and insulation products. Worker exposure is documented in Tacoma, Spokane, Mead, and Wenatchee. The Kaiser Aluminum bankruptcy trust is one of the asbestos-related trusts relevant to Washington workers in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing.
Construction Tradespeople
Insulators, pipefitters, and electricians who worked on pre-1980 commercial and public buildings in Washington were exposed to products from many 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.
Filing Process
- Diagnosis documentation. Pathology reports confirming mesothelioma.
- Exposure evidence. Work history placing the claimant at sites where specific products were used.
- Claim submission. Forms filed with each applicable trust.
- Review and payment. Trusts review and pay claims, typically within several months for expedited review.
Most trusts offer expedited review for people with mesothelioma, which can shorten processing to several 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
- VA disability benefits for veterans exposed during military service, including at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- Workers’ compensation claims through the Washington state system
Most Washington families pursue all applicable sources.
Deadlines
Washington has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under RCW 4.16.080, applied to mesothelioma through the discovery rule from the date of diagnosis. Trust fund claims have separate deadlines set by each trust. The three-year window matters primarily for lawsuit filings, but early documentation of work history preserves options across both trust and litigation paths.
Which trusts are most relevant to PSNS workers?▼
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard used asbestos products from many different manufacturers. Pipe insulation, boiler lagging, gaskets, and fireproofing each came from different companies. Commonly relevant trusts include Johns-Manville, Pittsburgh Corning, Owens Corning / Fibreboard, Babcock & Wilcox, and Garlock Sealing Technologies, among others.
Is there a Washington-specific asbestos trust?▼
No. Asbestos bankruptcy trusts are national trusts established through federal bankruptcy proceedings. They accept qualifying claims from Washington workers on the same terms as claims from other states.
Do Kaiser Aluminum workers have a trust claim?▼
Kaiser Aluminum operated plants in Washington and is one of the asbestos-related trusts relevant to Washington workers in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing. Eligibility depends on documented exposure at a Kaiser facility where asbestos-containing products were used.
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 Washington lawsuit?▼
Trust fund claims and lawsuits proceed independently. Filing trust claims does not reduce any lawsuit settlement or verdict. Most Washington families pursue both at the same time.
Is there a deadline to file trust claims?▼
Each trust has its own filing deadlines, which vary. Washington’s three-year personal injury statute of limitations under RCW 4.16.080 applies to lawsuits, not to trust claims. Documenting work history promptly after diagnosis preserves options across both paths.
References
U.S. Courts. U.S. Courts Asbestos Bankruptcy Information.
https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/asbestos
Washington State Legislature. Revised Code of Washington 4.16.080.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080
The Reflector. Jury Awards $13.5M to Family of Cowlitz County Worker Who Died of Mesothelioma.
https://www.thereflector.com/stories/jury-awards-135m-to-family-of-cowlitz-county-worker-who-died-of-mesothelioma,389586
RAND Corporation. RAND Institute Report on Asbestos Trust Fund Payments.
https://www.rand.org/topics/asbestos.html