In this episode, we delve into the history of Garlock Sealing Technologies, a company that once stood as the largest domestic manufacturer of packing materials in the United States. Founded in 1887 by Olin J. Garlock, the company began incorporating asbestos into its products around 1907. By the 1940s, Garlock's asbestos-containing products found their way into U.S. Navy ships and submarines, putting countless workers at risk of asbestos exposure.
In 1976, Colt Industries purchased Garlock Sealing Technologies, marking the beginning of the company's gradual shift away from the asbestos industry. By 1980, Garlock reportedly ceased using asbestos in its products. However, the acquisition of Anchor Packing Company in 1987 brought with it a legacy of asbestos use and related injury claims.
The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases extended beyond the factory workers who manufactured Garlock products. Military and civilian shipbuilders, pipefitters, engine room workers, construction workers, and many others were also at risk of exposure from Garlock products.
Facing tens of thousands of asbestos claims, Garlock filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010. In 2018, the company established the Garlock Settlement Facility under its Chapter 11 Joint Plan of Reorganization and began accepting claims. The trust developed a payment structure using 5 different "Contact Groups" to categorize asbestos injuries based on the likelihood of exposure to asbestos from packing materials.
In 2022, the trust received 16,508 claims, with about 6,208 for mesothelioma or lung cancer, and the remaining 10,000 for other injuries. The trust paid out over $40 million in claim settlements that year.
At AC.Law, we've helped thousands of people receive compensation for their asbestos injuries. You can contact asbestos attorney Justinian C. Lane at Asbestos Claims Law via his website at http://www.AsbestosClaims.law.
Email directly at help@asbestosclaims.law.
Or call anytime at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378).
