About the Celotex Corporation and Its Asbestos Products
The Celotex Corporation was a Chicago-based building materials manufacturer that became one of the dominant names in American roofing, insulation, and construction products for most of the twentieth century. Founded in the early 1900s to manufacture sugarcane fiber insulation board, Celotex expanded over the decades into a broad product line that came to include asbestos-containing roofing shingles, built-up roofing materials, pipe insulation, acoustical ceiling products, and insulation board.
Celotex roofing products and insulation board were sold to contractors nationwide and installed on millions of roofs, walls, and ceilings in homes, commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and industrial facilities throughout the mid-twentieth century. Roofers, insulators, and construction workers who handled Celotex asbestos-containing products — particularly during cutting, trimming, and application — were exposed to asbestos fibers released from these materials.
Celotex was acquired by Jim Walter Corporation in the 1970s, and the asbestos litigation liability that Celotex carried eventually became so large that Jim Walter Corporation itself was forced into bankruptcy in 1989. After extensive reorganization proceedings, the Celotex Settlement Trust was established to compensate asbestos victims. The trust has a current payment percentage of 7%.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Celotex Asbestos Settlement Trust |
| Predecessor Company | The Celotex Corporation / Jim Walter Corporation |
| Payment Percentage | 7% |
| Mesothelioma Scheduled Value | ~$175,000 (actual payment ~$12,250 at 7%) |
| Key Products | Roofing shingles, built-up roofing, roofing felt, insulation board, pipe insulation, acoustical ceiling products |
| Primary Exposure Trades | Roofers, insulators, construction workers |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
At 7%, the Celotex Trust provides a modest per-claim payment. However, because Celotex products were used side-by-side with other asbestos roofing and insulation brands, many workers eligible for the Celotex Trust also have claims against Flintkote, Armstrong, Manville, and other trusts, all of which can be filed simultaneously to maximize total compensation.
Who Is Eligible to File with the Celotex Trust?
Eligibility requires documented exposure to Celotex Corporation asbestos-containing products and a qualifying asbestos disease diagnosis.
Eligible occupations:
- Roofers who applied Celotex roofing shingles, felt underlayment, or built-up roofing materials
- Roofers who removed or tore off old Celotex roofing systems
- Insulators who applied Celotex pipe insulation or insulation board at industrial and commercial facilities
- Construction workers who cut or handled Celotex insulation board
- Sheet metal workers and HVAC contractors who worked near Celotex insulation installation
- Demolition workers who removed Celotex products from buildings
- Carpenters who worked with or around Celotex insulation board on construction projects
Qualifying diagnoses: mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and diffuse pleural thickening.
How to File a Celotex Trust Claim
- Attorney consultation: A mesothelioma attorney will review your work history to identify exposure to Celotex roofing, insulation, or building products.
- Document Celotex product exposure: Your attorney establishes when and where you encountered Celotex asbestos products. For roofers, this often involves documenting specific roofing jobs, employers, and the brands of roofing material used. For insulators and construction workers, facility and project records are used.
- Medical documentation: Pathology report and medical records confirming your diagnosis are compiled.
- Claim submission: The attorney submits the complete claim package to the Celotex Trust administrator.
- Review and payment: The trust reviews the claim and pays at 7% of the scheduled disease value upon approval.
Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?
Yes. Roofers who used Celotex products typically also worked with products from other manufacturers, including Flintkote, Manville, and other roofing brands. Insulators with Celotex exposure may also have claims against Manville, Pittsburgh Corning, Owens Corning, and other insulation trusts. All of these claims can be filed simultaneously, and a lawsuit against solvent defendants can also proceed at the same time. Your attorney will identify all applicable trusts to maximize your total recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Celotex Settlement Trust currently pays at approximately 7% of the scheduled disease value. Applied to a mesothelioma scheduled value of approximately $175,000, the actual payment is about $12,250 before attorney fees. This is typically one component of a broader multi-trust recovery strategy.
Celotex manufactured roofing shingles, built-up roofing materials, roofing felt underlayment, insulation board, pipe and block insulation, and acoustical ceiling products containing asbestos. The most significant exposure scenarios involved cutting, trimming, and applying these materials, as well as tearing off existing Celotex roofing during re-roofing projects, which released asbestos fibers from weathered and deteriorated materials.
Yes. Celotex was acquired by Jim Walter Corporation, a Tampa, Florida-based building products conglomerate, in the 1970s. The asbestos personal injury claims against Celotex grew so large that they overwhelmed Jim Walter Corporation itself, forcing Jim Walter into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1989. The Celotex Settlement Trust was established through this bankruptcy proceeding to compensate victims on an ongoing basis.
Yes. Celotex products were used in residential, commercial, and industrial roofing. Roofers who applied or removed Celotex roofing materials on homes as well as commercial buildings may have a qualifying claim. Your attorney will evaluate your specific work history to determine whether the nature and duration of your Celotex exposure supports a claim.