Editing Trust Fund Filing Guidance (section)

== What Is the Current Trust Fund Landscape? ==

=== The $30 Billion Compensation Opportunity ===

The asbestos bankruptcy trust system emerged from decades of [https://dandell.com/asbestos-exposure/ occupational exposure litigation] that drove major manufacturers into bankruptcy protection.

{| style="width:90%; margin:1.5em auto; background:#f8f9fa; border-left:4px solid #1a5276; border-radius:0 4px 4px 0;"
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| style="padding:20px 25px 15px; font-style:italic; font-size:1.05em; line-height:1.6;" | "The trust fund system represents the most reliable compensation pathway for many victims, but navigating 60+ separate entities with different requirements demands expertise that individual claimants simply cannot replicate on their own."
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| style="padding:5px 25px 20px; text-align:right;" | '''— Paul Danziger,''' Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano
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Today's landscape includes over 60 active trusts representing companies from diverse industries—[https://mesotheliomaattorney.com/video/what-is-an-asbestos-trust-fund/ insulation manufacturers], automotive parts producers, [https://mesothelioma.net/asbestos-insulation/ construction material suppliers], and shipbuilders. Each trust operates independently with distinct payment percentages, evidence requirements, and claim review processes that directly impact compensation amounts. The [https://mesothelioma.net/mesothelioma-asbestos-trust-funds/ complexity of the system] requires identifying which trusts align with a victim's specific exposure history, then orchestrating claims to maximize total recovery while avoiding conflicts.

Payment percentages fluctuate based on trust solvency and claim volume projections. The [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/johns-manville-asbestos-trust-payments-lawsuits/ Johns-Manville Trust], the oldest and largest in the system, demonstrates how payment percentages vary from 5% to 10% of scheduled values based on trust management decisions and fund conservation requirements. The most significant 2025 adjustment occurred with [https://dandell.com/asbestos-trust-funds/shook-and-fletcher-asbestos-trust-payments-lawsuits/ Shook & Fletcher], which increased from 50% to 58% effective May 2025—the only trust to increase payments this year.

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| style="padding:15px; color:#155724;" | '''✅ Good News:''' The Shook & Fletcher Trust increased its payment percentage from 50% to 58% in May 2025—the only trust to raise payments this year. If you have exposure to Shook & Fletcher products, acting quickly can capture this favorable rate.
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=== Current Payment Percentages by Trust Tier ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left; width:25%;" | Trust Name
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:center; width:15%;" | Payment %
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left; width:20%;" | Initial Funding
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left; width:40%;" | Notes
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#e8f4f8; padding:10px; text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | Tier 1: Highest Payment Percentages (30%+)
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | [https://dandell.com/asbestos-trust-funds/narco-asbestos-trust-payments-lawsuits/ NARCO Trust]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; color:#28a745; font-weight:bold;" | 100%
| style="padding:12px;" | $6.32 billion
| style="padding:12px;" | Exceptional outlier; largest initial funding
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8f9fa;" | [https://dandell.com/asbestos-trust-funds/shook-and-fletcher-asbestos-trust-payments-lawsuits/ Shook & Fletcher]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; background:#f8f9fa; color:#28a745; font-weight:bold;" | 58%
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | $1.1 billion
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | Increased from 50% in May 2025
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | ASARCO
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" | 35%
| style="padding:12px;" | $1.85 billion
| style="padding:12px;" | Mining/smelting exposure
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8f9fa;" | [https://dandell.com/asbestos-trust-funds/wr-grace-asbestos-trust-payments-lawsuits/ W.R. Grace]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; background:#f8f9fa; font-weight:bold;" | 30.1%
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | $3.0 billion
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | Adjusted April 2025; Libby vermiculite
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#e8f4f8; padding:10px; text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | Tier 2: Moderate Payment Percentages (10-30%)
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos/manufacturers/pittsburgh-corning/ Pittsburgh Corning]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" | 19%
| style="padding:12px;" | $3.41 billion
| style="padding:12px;" | $1.114 billion remaining assets
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8f9fa;" | [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos/manufacturers/the-flintkote-company/ Flintkote]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; background:#f8f9fa; font-weight:bold;" | 15%
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | $1.3 billion
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | Roofing and construction materials
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | USG Trust
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" | 11%
| style="padding:12px;" | $4.0 billion
| style="padding:12px;" | Confirmed January 2025
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8f9fa;" | [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos/manufacturers/kaiser-aluminum/ Kaiser Aluminum]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; background:#f8f9fa; color:#dc3545; font-weight:bold;" | 10.6%
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | $850 million
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | Dropped from 15.5% (32% reduction)
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#e8f4f8; padding:10px; text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | Tier 3: Lower Payment Percentages (5-10%)
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Celotex
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" | 7%
| style="padding:12px;" | $1.2 billion
| style="padding:12px;" | Insulation products
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8f9fa;" | [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos/manufacturers/johns-manville/ Johns-Manville]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; background:#f8f9fa; font-weight:bold;" | 5.1%
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | $3.02 billion
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8f9fa;" | Oldest/largest trust; March 2025 adjustment
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos/manufacturers/owens-corning-corporation/ Owens Corning/Fibreboard]
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;" | 4.7%
| style="padding:12px;" | $4.9 billion combined
| style="padding:12px;" | Combined trust structure
|}

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| style="padding:15px; color:#856404;" | '''⚠️ Payment Percentage Warning:''' Kaiser Aluminum dropped 32% (from 15.5% to 10.6%) in May 2025. Payment percentages can change without warning—delayed filing directly reduces your compensation. Contact an attorney today to lock in current rates.
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