Garlock Sealing Technologies

Garlock’s History with Asbestos

Garlock used asbestos to manufacture gaskets, valve packing and packaging materials from 1907 to 1980.

Asbestos is a mineral naturally resistant to heat and chemical corrosion. These properties made it an ideal additive to gaskets and vales that prevented leaks where hot liquids, steam and acid flowed through pipes and machinery.

Garlock got its start making seals for pistons on steam engines. It grew throughout the 20th century by providing gaskets, valves and packing to a wide variety of industries such as manufacturing, power generation and shipbuilding. Even the U.S. Navy used Garlock’s products on submarines and other vessels.

Unfortunately, the people who manufactured or worked with Garlock’s products were exposed to asbestos and put at risk of developing a related disease such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Because Garlock made asbestos products for so many years, thousands of people were exposed and claimed they developed asbestos-related diseases later in life.

Garlock Files for Bankruptcy

Garlock buckled under the weight of more than 900,000 asbestos-related claims and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2010.

Garlock’s bankruptcy plans were rejected twice before receiving approval in June 2017. A version of the plan was rejected by the bankruptcy court in 2013, and another version was rejected by the asbestos victims committee in 2015.

Development of Garlock Trust Fund

Approval of Garlock’s bankruptcy and reorganization plan established its trust fund, known as the GST Settlement Facility.

The trust began accepting claims on September 17, 2018. It contains approximately $480 million to compensate people who develop an asbestos-related disease as a result of exposure to Garlock products.

The diseases covered by the trust include asbestosis, mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancers including malignancies of the lung, larynx, esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. Various payment ratios are set for different diseases.

In November 2021, the trust increased the maximum settlement values for every condition covered by the trust. For example, claimants with mesothelioma or lung cancer who worked occupations that handled Garlock gaskets and packing with high frequency now have a maximum settlement value of $298,200, which is a substantial increase compared to the former value of $149,100.

Asbestos Litigation Involving Garlock

Prior to filing for bankruptcy protection, Garlock had been tenacious in defending itself against asbestos-related lawsuits. While several multimillion dollar verdicts were handed down against it, the company successfully defended many others.

Garlock even protected itself from being blamed for asbestos exposure that had links to one of its competitors. The company went so far as to object to W.R. Grace & Co.’s reorganization plan because, as a co-defendant in many asbestos lawsuits, Garlock would be left with Grace’s share of responsibility.

Garlock faced hundreds of thousands of asbestos lawsuits, exposing the company to significant financial and legal hardships. According to industry publications, the company spent more than $100 million each year in settlements before seeking bankruptcy protection.

Garlock has paid nearly $1.37 billion in indemnity payments. Insurance coverage has issued over $1 billion to date. The company had more than 100,000 cases pending prior to filing for bankruptcy.

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Garlock Asbestos Products & Workers at Risk

The broad reach of Garlock’s asbestos-containing product lines endangered employees in many different occupations. Engineers, insulators, factory workers, plumbers, electricians, miners and steel workers were exposed to asbestos through Garlock’s products.

In addition to the Garlock employees who manufactured asbestos-containing products, workers in a number of industries were exposed.

A 2016 Epidemiology and Health study from Sweden reported rates of asbestos-related cancer in different occupations including machine fitters who used asbestos gaskets regularly on the job. According to the research, former machine fitters are 75% more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general population.