Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. Trust Fund and Lawsuits

What Is the Harbison-Walker Refractories Co. Asbestos Trust Fund?

The Harbison-Walker asbestos trust is a fund the company established during its bankruptcy proceedings to hold money for future asbestos claim payouts. The trust, DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust, was funded with about $4 billion. Recent estimates show it now contains about $1.65 billion.

Harbison-Walker Refractories Asbestos Trust Updates

1. The current payment percentage is 60%.
2. Mesothelioma has a scheduled payment of $136,500.
3. Lung cancer has a scheduled payment of $44,900.
4. Other cancers have a scheduled payment of $24,000.

The Harbison-Walker bankruptcy case is unusual compared to other asbestos companies that filed for bankruptcy. Harbison-Walker entered bankruptcy so that it could survive, reorganize and establish its asbestos trust fund. Harbison-Walker felt the decision benefited the company, its stakeholders and asbestos claimants. 

Harbison-Walker and its parent company, Dresser Industries Inc., had merged with Halliburton prior to filing for bankruptcy in 2002. During the bankruptcy, the company struck a deal with its insurers, London Underwriters (and their reinsurers, Equitas). The plan was to settle the claims from people who developed mesothelioma and other diseases related to the asbestos in its products for “100 cents” on the dollar, meaning the full value of the claims.

Legal Help for People Exposed to Harbison-Walker Refractories Asbestos Products

An experienced asbestos lawyer can help people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families secure compensation for treatment costs, lost income and other expenses. If you developed mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer after exposure to Harbison-Walker Refractories products like firebricks and cement, you may qualify for payments through the DII Industries LLC Asbestos PI Trust.

Your mesothelioma attorney will review your work history and determine if there are additional options for mesothelioma compensation. This could include filing a lawsuit against another company also responsible for your exposure and workers’ compensation.

To find the right legal team for you and your loved ones, contact a Patient Advocate who will listen to your needs and personally match you to a lawyer. Your Patient Advocate will also provide support, schedule appointments with renowned mesothelioma specialists and assist with insurance and VA claims.

Asbestos Litigation Involving Harbison-Walker

The company’s business continued to grow into the 21st century. However, Harbison-Walker faced more than 200,000 pending mesothelioma lawsuits, nearly 132,000 of which stemmed from an indemnification agreement made during its 1992 spin-off from Dresser.

Just before Harbison-Walker filed for bankruptcy, a 2001 asbestos verdict of $40 million was awarded to 5 people with asbestos-related diseases. The jury found Harbison-Walker, A.P. Green Industries Inc. and Armstrong Contracting and Supply responsible for exposing the plaintiffs to asbestos-containing products while knowing the hazards associated with the toxic mineral.

Other asbestos verdicts issued against Harbison-Walker in 2001 totaled $112 million. These losses led the company to choose to file for bankruptcy.

Harbison-Walker’s History With Asbestos

The firm made fireproof bricks and industrial materials that resisted high heat, so asbestos was added for its fireproofing abilities. The company began in 1865 as Star Fire Brick Company near Pittsburgh. Founders changed the name to Harbison-Walker in 1875 and Dresser Industries bought it in 1967. 

In the 1990s people who developed asbestos-related diseases from its products began filing lawsuits. Dresser merged with Halliburton in 1998 and Halliburton took on all Harbison-Walker asbestos claims. Former Vice President Dick Cheney led Halliburton as CEO during the deal. 

A year later, RHI AG purchased Harbison-Walker in 1999. Halliburton and Dresser managed ongoing claims. The firm became HarbisonWalker International in 2015. It now leads U.S. refractory product supply. 

Because of the 20- to 60-year mesothelioma latency period, past exposure is still resulting in diagnoses today. The asbestos trust fund handles claims today.

Occupations at Risk From Harbison-Walker’s Products

Workers in a variety of industries, including power generation, construction, manufacturing and maritime operations, were exposed to asbestos through Harbison-Walker’s products. U.S. Navy veterans faced the risk of heavy exposure to Harbison-Walker’s asbestos products aboard naval vessels with poor ventilation.

Higher Risk Jobs

• Cement workers
• Chemical plant workers
• Construction workers
• Foundry workers
• Harbison-Walker manufacturing plant workers
• Masonry workers
• Metal workers
• Oil refinery workers
• Paper plant workers
• Power plant workers
• Refractory plant workers
• Rubber plant workers
• Veterans of the U.S. armed forces

Former employees of Harbison-Walker who worked in manufacturing facilities faced high levels of asbestos exposure. Any of these legacy products that remain in facilities can pose a risk.

Harbison-Walker’s Asbestos Products

Harbison-Walker manufactured these products between 1960 and 1981. They were used in construction, power generation, rubber manufacturing, chemical production, pulp and paper mills, metal works and aboard U.S. Navy ships.

Harbison-Walker’s Asbestos Products

• Asbestos rope
• Castables
• Chromepak G
• H-W Lightweight Castable #10
• Micracrete refractory cement
• Metalkase firebrick

Workers mixed, cut and installed these products in high-heat environments, releasing toxic asbestos fibers into the air. Exposure occurred during routine maintenance and repairs in factories, shipyards and power plants.

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