The Quigley Asbestos Trust fund compensates people diagnosed with mesothelioma from its refractory products. Quigley chose to file for bankruptcy after asbestos in these products sparked thousands of lawsuits. The asbestos trust fund was created during bankruptcy proceedings.
Written by D. Carl Money | Scientifically Reviewed by Sean Fitzgerald, PG | Edited by Amy Edel | Last Update: January 21, 2026
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Quigley Company established The Quigley Company, Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Trust in 2013 as part of its reorganization plan. Although the company filed for bankruptcy in 2004, the proceedings lasted until 2013. The trust began accepting claims in 2014.
Quigley Company Asbestos Trust Updates
Pfizer, which acquired Quigley in 1968 and operated it as a subsidiary, originally funded the asbestos trust fund with $965 million. A total of $430 million of these funds paid 80% of the existing plaintiffs. The other $535 million went toward paying the remaining 20% of current plaintiffs and funding the trust for all future claims.
Expedited vs. Individual Filings
Some claimants may receive a higher payment depending on their age, diagnosis, severity of disease and exposure history. The trust offers 2 types of filings. Expedited claim reviews pay out a predetermined amount based on the type of disease, quickly putting needed funds into the hands of claimants. An individual review takes longer to process but may result in a higher but sometimes less-than-average payout.
Claimants can file a paper claim form or online with the assistance of an experienced mesothelioma attorney. The trust requires a completed claim form and all necessary documentation to verify the medical diagnosis, employment records and exposure history. Claimants may also submit supporting documents to determine their eligibility and estimated mesothelioma compensation.
People diagnosed with mesothelioma after using Quigley refractory products like Insulag cement find real value in expert legal help. Your asbestos attorney will gather all supporting documentation including your job records, health reports and exposure evidence, then submit your claim to the Quigley Asbestos Trust on time.
Skilled lawyers examine your full work background to pinpoint every asbestos company that may also be responsible for your exposure. They can file your trust claim while concurrently pursuing lawsuits against non-bankrupt companies, as well as workers’ compensation benefits that apply.
Our Patient Advocates can pair you with the right asbestos attorney for you and your family who specializes in cases like yours. Your Patient Advocate will provide nonstop support with financial assistance resources, mesothelioma specialist appointments, family support groups, VA benefits and insurance navigation.
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.
Get Help NowQuigley Company faced mesothelioma lawsuits starting in the late 1970s when workers diagnosed with diseases decades after exposure sought compensation. Claims piled up quickly, leading the company to file for bankruptcy in 2004. This effectively capped Pfizer’s legal risks.
Even during bankruptcy, some people tried suing Pfizer directly. Courts blocked those efforts in 2010 and ruled that Pfizer’s name on products didn’t make it a manufacturer. Pfizer held responsibility only as Quigley’s parent company. In Rublee v. Pfizer, Inc., a 2017 decision rejected Margaret Rublee’s claim tied to her husband’s work with Quigley’s Insulag insulation and confirmed plaintiffs can’t target Pfizer that way.
Quigley and Pfizer handled hundreds of thousands of claims before the trust formed. The Quigley asbestos trust reviews claims and pays based on its percentage rates and case specifics. Because of the long mesothelioma latency period, more claims are expected in the future, so the trust works to ensure these can be covered as well.
Quigley Company, established in 1916, used asbestos in its products from about 1930 through the 1970s. As one of the top manufacturers in the industry, it provided asbestos-containing products to the United States, Canada and Europe.
The company used toxic asbestos fibers to increase product durability and heat resistance. Pfizer acquired the refractory business in 1968 and continued to operate Quigley as a subsidiary under its parent company, producing insulation and other asbestos-containing products until the late 1970s.
In 1991, Pfizer shifted its focus to pharmaceuticals and closed Quigley Company. However, shutting down operations didn’t stop the influx of lawsuits over asbestos exposure among former Quigley employees, workers in industries that came into contact with Quigley products and workers’ family members.
Although Pfizer never directly manufactured any of Quigley Company’s asbestos-containing products, its acquisition of the asbestos manufacturer transferred all legal and financial responsibilities of Quigley to Pfizer.
Employees involved in the manufacturing or handling of Quigley products experienced repeated asbestos exposure. They inhaled asbestos fibers that eventually became embedded in their lungs and other tissues. Many workers would develop symptoms and serious health consequences 20 to 60 years after their initial exposure.
Higher Risk Jobs
Workers who encountered the carcinogen on the job weren’t the only ones exposed to asbestos. Close family members experienced secondary exposure when these workers brought the fibers home on their clothing, skin or hair. As with occupational exposure, there is no safe level of secondary exposure and many people developed mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases decades after the exposure occurred.
Quigley Company produced insulating refractory products that incorporated asbestos for added strength and fire resistance. Unfortunately, these products exposed workers to the carcinogen.
Asbestos-Containing Quigley Products
Quigley refractory products were popular in the metal and glass industries, which involve high temperatures as part of their daily operational processes. The inclusion of low-cost asbestos meant Quigley products could withstand the heat of these operations while maintaining affordable prices that appealed to many businesses.
New laws and regulations put a stop to the manufacture of dangerous asbestos products by the 1980s. However, people continue to suffer toxic exposure when encountering these materials in older buildings and equipment.
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Asbestos.com. (2026, January 23). Quigley Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits. Retrieved January 30, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/companies/quigley-company/
"Quigley Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Asbestos.com, 23 Jan 2026, https://www.asbestos.com/companies/quigley-company/.
Asbestos.com. "Quigley Company Trust Fund and Lawsuits." Last modified January 23, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/quigley-company/.
An occupational scientist or another expert who specializes in occupational hazards reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current scientific standards and accuracy.
Sean Fitzgerald, PG, is a research geologist specializing in asbestos environmental studies.
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