Ingersoll Rand Trust Lawsuits and Compensation

Pursuing Compensation From Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand continues to face ongoing asbestos litigation with lawsuits filed in both federal and state courts from people exposed to asbestos in its products. This exposure has caused people to develop mesothelioma and lung cancer.

These personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits are predominantly associated with equipment parts and through Trane products, which Ingersoll acquired in 2008. Trane, formerly American Standard, worked with asbestos in many HVAC components and boilers, producing pumps, compressors, boilers and railroad brake shoes.

Unlike other asbestos manufacturers, Ingersoll Rand has yet to file for bankruptcy and establish an asbestos trust fund to handle claims. The company continues to litigate asbestos lawsuits through settlements and the court system.

Legal Help for People Exposed to Ingersoll Rand Asbestos Products

Ingersoll Rand’s asbestos products caused real harm, and those affected shouldn’t have to navigate the legal system alone. The claims process involves complex procedural requirements, strict filing deadlines and detailed evidence gathering, all while you’re focused on your health. A mesothelioma attorney handles these challenges for you.

Your lawyer will  build your case while identifying every available source of compensation. This might include filing a mesothelioma lawsuit against Ingersoll Rand, pursuing claims with additional other responsible parties or accessing workers’ compensation benefits.

Our Patient Advocates connect you with attorneys who specialize in cases like yours, along with top mesothelioma specialists who can provide the care you need. From scheduling medical appointments to helping with VA claims and insurance questions, your advocate provides comprehensive support for both the financial and medical sides of your diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits Involving Ingersoll Rand

Ingersoll Rand reportedly expected to pay up to $755 million for pending and future asbestos claims by 2053. It settled more than 208,000 asbestos claims in 2008, with payouts totaling more than $308 million, and was facing more than 100,000 pending claims that year. As of December 2019, the company maintained a reserve of $118.1 million for asbestos litigation costs and said its insurance policies were set to cover its asbestos liabilities.

In one notable case, a Florida jury awarded nearly $1 million to the estate of Woodrow McBride, a power plant worker who developed mesothelioma. He’d experienced long-term asbestos exposure to asbestos in products from Ingersoll Rand and several other companies. McBride filed the lawsuit in August 2006, just one month before he died. The jury reached a verdict in 2009.

In another significant and precedent-setting case involving Ingersoll Rand, a Pennsylvania appellate court ruled testimony from another deceased worker shouldn’t have been excluded from trial. Nicolas Kardos had worked at Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Gulf Research, where he was exposed to asbestos products and subsequently developed mesothelioma.

After Kardos died during litigation, Ingersoll Rand successfully had his deposition thrown out at the trial level. The Superior Court reversed that decision, ruling his testimony was admissible because Ingersoll Rand’s attorneys had been present during his three-day deposition and had the opportunity to cross-examine him. After the appellate court’s opinion, Ingersoll Rand settled the case rather than proceed to trial.

Ingersoll Rand’s Connection to Asbestos

Simon Ingersoll founded the company’s predecessor, Ingersoll Rock Drill Company, in 1871. The company later took the name Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Company before merging with Rand Drill Company in 1905 to form Ingersoll Rand. The company became a leader in global manufacturing of industrial equipment, including mining and drilling machinery, power tools and manual and electric chain hoists.

In 2008, Ingersoll Rand acquired Trane, an HVAC supplier formerly known as American Standard Companies Inc. that had used asbestos in many of its HVAC components. At the time of the acquisition, Trane had 105,023 open asbestos claims. Ingersoll Rand absorbed Trane into its Climate Control Technologies division.

In March 2020, Ingersoll Rand completed a merger with Gardner Denver, an industrial manufacturer of compressors, blowers and vacuum pumps, and kept the Ingersoll name. Today, Ingersoll Rand offers services and products for numerous industries, including aerospace, chemical, energy, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and transportation.

Ingersoll Rand’s Asbestos Products

Prior to the 1980s, some of Ingersoll Rand’s products contained asbestos because it added heat protection and strength. Parts such as gaskets, valve packing and compressors incorporated asbestos as part of the standard for durability against heat and wear.

Asbestos Products Trane and Ingersoll Rand Made and Used

• Boilers
• Braided asbestos
• Compressors
• Gaskets
• HVAC components
• Pumps
• Railroad brake shoes
• Sheet packing
• Steam pump packing
• Valve packing

Workers who handled, installed or maintained these products faced potential asbestos exposure, particularly before safety regulations took effect in the 1970s and 1980s. The microscopic asbestos fibers released during routine maintenance, repairs or equipment operation could be inhaled and inadvertently carried home on clothing, skin and hair, exposing family members.

Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Ingersoll Rand?

Ingersoll Rand’s asbestos-containing products were used for a variety of purposes and resulted in a range of occupations at risk of asbestos exposure. Those with direct and prolonged long-term exposure were at the highest risk, but there is no safe asbestos exposure.

Higher-Risk Occupations

• Trane and Ingersoll Rand manufacturing plant workers
• Boiler workers
• Power plant workers
• Shipyard workers
• Railroad workers
• Industrial workers
• Factory workers
• Manufacturing plant workers
• Maintenance workers
• Engineers
• Veterans of the U.S. armed forces

According to a 2022 report by the European Commission, more than 70,000 workers died in 2019 from past exposure to asbestos. Employees were under additional risk if they worked in environments where asbestos was present in workstation fixtures and protective clothing.

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