About the ARTRA 524(g) Trust
ARTRA Group, Inc. was a diversified manufacturing and distribution company headquartered in Park Ridge, Illinois, that operated extensively throughout the mid-20th century. Among its product lines, ARTRA Group produced and distributed a range of paint and coating products, some of which contained asbestos as a binding and fire-retardant additive. Asbestos was commonly incorporated into industrial and commercial paints from the 1940s through the late 1970s because of its heat resistance, durability, and fire-suppression properties. Workers who applied, sanded, mixed, or otherwise handled these asbestos-containing coatings faced significant inhalation risks, as the asbestos fibers could become airborne during routine product use — especially during sanding or surface preparation.
As the health consequences of asbestos exposure became undeniable and litigation mounted across the country, ARTRA Group faced an overwhelming volume of personal injury lawsuits from painters, construction workers, and industrial laborers who had developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases. Unable to sustain these liabilities while continuing normal operations, ARTRA Group, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2004. Pursuant to Section 524(g) of the United States Bankruptcy Code — a provision specifically designed for companies with massive asbestos liabilities — the ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in 2006. The trust serves as the exclusive vehicle for resolving all present and future asbestos-related personal injury claims against the company, ensuring a fair and orderly distribution of available assets to all eligible claimants.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Trust Name | ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust |
| Predecessor Company | ARTRA Group, Inc. |
| Bankruptcy Filed | 2004 (Chapter 11) |
| Trust Established | 2006 |
| Payment Percentage | 0.6% |
| Mesothelioma Scheduled Value | ~$200,000 (scheduled); ~$1,200 actual at current payment % |
| Claims Processor | Trust administrator under confirmed 524(g) plan |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, other asbestos-related diseases |
| Products Covered | Asbestos-containing ARTRA brand paints and coatings |
Payment percentages and scheduled values may be adjusted by the trust over time. Consult an asbestos attorney for current figures.
Who Is Eligible to File a Claim
Eligibility for the ARTRA 524(g) Trust requires demonstrating both a qualifying asbestos-related disease and a documented history of exposure to ARTRA Group products. The trust's claims criteria identify the following categories of potentially eligible claimants:
- Professional painters who applied ARTRA brand asbestos-containing paints in commercial, residential, or industrial settings
- Construction workers involved in painting, coating, or surface-preparation tasks using ARTRA products on job sites
- Industrial maintenance workers who applied ARTRA coatings to equipment, machinery, pipes, or structural components
- Shipyard workers who applied or worked near asbestos-containing paints during ship construction, repair, or overhaul
- Auto body technicians who worked with ARTRA automotive coatings, primers, or undercoatings containing asbestos
- Hardware and paint store employees who regularly handled, mixed, or stocked ARTRA paint products
- Secondary (household) exposure claimants — spouses or family members of workers who transported asbestos fibers home on clothing or equipment
- Workers exposed approximately 1940–1980, during the period when asbestos use in paint products was most widespread
Claimants must provide medical evidence of a qualifying diagnosis and documentation connecting their exposure specifically to ARTRA products. Acceptable evidence includes employment records, union membership documentation, co-worker affidavits, product identification testimony, and Social Security earnings histories.
How to File a Claim with the ARTRA Trust
Trust claims require careful documentation and adherence to established procedures. The following steps outline the standard process:
- Consult a mesothelioma attorney. An experienced asbestos attorney will evaluate your full exposure history, identify all trusts for which you may be eligible (often many more than a dozen), and gather the documentation required for each. Most attorneys work on contingency — no fees unless you receive compensation.
- Obtain medical records and diagnosis documentation. You will need pathology reports, imaging results, and a physician's diagnostic letter confirming the asbestos-related disease. For mesothelioma, the diagnosis must typically be confirmed by a qualified pathologist.
- Compile your work and exposure history. Your attorney will help gather employment records, union cards, Social Security work histories, and affidavits from former co-workers or supervisors who can corroborate your specific exposure to ARTRA products.
- Complete the trust claim form. The ARTRA Trust uses a standardized claim form capturing personal information, medical history, exposure details, and legal representation data. Your attorney will complete and carefully review this form.
- Submit the complete claim package. Your attorney submits the completed form with all supporting documents to the ARTRA Trust administrator. If you have a terminal mesothelioma diagnosis, your attorney may request expedited review.
- Await review and determination. The trust verifies your documentation and issues a settlement determination. You may accept the offer, request reconsideration, or elect alternative dispute resolution if available.
- Receive payment. Upon approval and acceptance of the settlement, the trust issues payment at the current 0.6% payment percentage. Your attorney coordinates this with any concurrent trust or lawsuit settlements to maximize total recovery.
Can You File Other Claims in Addition to the ARTRA Trust?
Yes — and in virtually every mesothelioma case, victims were exposed to asbestos from multiple sources across their careers. This means you are very likely eligible to file with multiple asbestos trusts simultaneously. Over 100 asbestos bankruptcy trusts currently hold funds for victims, and many claimants file with 10, 20, or even more trusts based on their specific exposure history. Common co-exposure trusts include those established by Johns Manville, Armstrong World Industries, Owens Corning, Pittsburgh Corning, Celotex, and dozens of others depending on the industries and worksites involved.
In addition to trust fund claims, you may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against solvent (non-bankrupt) companies that contributed to your asbestos exposure. These lawsuits can yield significantly larger verdicts or settlements than trust fund payments alone. Filing a lawsuit does not disqualify you from also receiving trust fund payments — the two paths are complementary and can be pursued simultaneously. An experienced mesothelioma law firm will pursue every available avenue, including veterans' benefits if you served in the military, and can help ensure you receive the maximum total compensation available under law.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ARTRA 524(g) Trust is an asbestos personal injury trust established following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of ARTRA Group, Inc. in 2004 and formalized in 2006. The trust was created to compensate individuals who developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases after exposure to ARTRA Group paint and coating products that contained asbestos. It is administered by a professional trustee under the oversight of a trust advisory committee and a future claimants' representative to protect the interests of those not yet diagnosed.
The ARTRA 524(g) Trust has a payment percentage of approximately 0.6%. This is one of the lowest payment percentages among active asbestos trusts, reflecting the limited assets available in the trust relative to the total volume of present and anticipated future claims. For a mesothelioma claim with a scheduled (base) value of $200,000, the actual payment would be approximately $1,200. Despite the low individual payment, filing remains worthwhile when combined with claims against other trusts and potential personal injury litigation.
Individuals who were occupationally or paraoccupationally exposed to asbestos-containing ARTRA Group paint products may be eligible. This primarily includes professional painters, construction workers, and industrial maintenance workers who routinely applied or handled ARTRA brand coatings. Household (secondary) exposure claimants — family members who were exposed through contact with an exposed worker's contaminated clothing or equipment — may also qualify.
The trust offers an expedited review process for terminally ill claimants with mesothelioma, which can significantly shorten processing time. Standard claims without expedited status may take several months to over a year from submission to final determination. Your attorney can request and document the need for expedited processing when submitting a mesothelioma claim.
You are not legally required to hire an attorney to file an asbestos trust claim. However, given the complexity of documenting product-specific exposure, coordinating multiple trust filings, and potentially pursuing litigation against non-bankrupt defendants, professional legal representation is strongly recommended. Mesothelioma attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing upfront and owe fees only if compensation is recovered.
Yes. Most mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos from products made or distributed by multiple companies over their lifetimes. You may be eligible to file with many asbestos trusts simultaneously, and you can also pursue a personal injury lawsuit against solvent companies. An experienced asbestos attorney will review your complete work history to identify every available source of compensation and submit claims to all applicable trusts at once.