About the DII Industries Trust: Dresser, Brown & Root, and Harbison-Walker
The DII Industries Trust has a complex corporate history rooted in several distinct asbestos liability streams that converged through a series of mergers and acquisitions.
Brown & Root was one of the largest engineering and construction contractors in the United States, executing major industrial construction projects at refineries, chemical plants, power plants, and offshore facilities for much of the twentieth century. Workers employed by Brown & Root, or working at facilities Brown & Root constructed, were exposed to asbestos insulation, fireproofing, and other asbestos materials that Brown & Root used or specified in construction.
Dresser Industries was a major oilfield equipment and industrial products manufacturer. Its product lines included industrial valves, pumps, compressors, and equipment for the oil, gas, and refining industries, many of which incorporated asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, and insulation. Dresser acquired Harbison-Walker Refractories Company, one of the largest manufacturers of refractory brick and mortar in the country, further deepening its asbestos exposure.
Harbison-Walker Refractories made refractory products — heat-resistant bricks, mortars, castables, and coatings used to line furnaces, kilns, boilers, and other high-temperature industrial equipment. These products contained asbestos, and workers who installed, removed, and worked near refractory linings in steel mills, glass plants, cement plants, and aluminum smelters were exposed to asbestos fibers.
Halliburton acquired Dresser Industries (and with it, Brown & Root and Harbison-Walker) in 1998. The accumulated asbestos liability was restructured through DII Industries LLC, which filed for bankruptcy protection. The resulting DII Industries Trust compensates victims of all of these connected asbestos liabilities.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust |
| Associated Entities | DII Industries LLC, Brown & Root Inc., Dresser Industries, Harbison-Walker Refractories, Kellogg Brown & Root |
| Payment Percentage | Variable by disease category and subfund; contact attorney for current rates |
| Key Products / Operations | Industrial construction (Brown & Root); oilfield equipment (Dresser); refractory bricks and mortar (Harbison-Walker) |
| Primary Industries | Petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, power generation, steel manufacturing, glass, cement, aluminum |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
Because the DII Industries Trust encompasses multiple distinct corporate liability streams, payment percentages vary. Your attorney will determine the applicable subfund and current payment terms based on your specific exposure history.
Who Is Eligible to File with the DII Industries Trust?
Eligibility depends on which of the covered companies’ products or operations you were exposed to:
- Brown & Root construction workers: Construction workers, pipefitters, insulators, electricians, and laborers employed by or working on job sites contracted by Brown & Root where asbestos materials were used
- Refinery and chemical plant workers: Workers at facilities constructed, expanded, or maintained by Brown & Root who were exposed to asbestos construction materials
- Dresser equipment workers: Industrial workers who handled or repaired Dresser valves, pumps, compressors, and other equipment with asbestos gaskets and packing
- Harbison-Walker refractory workers: Steelworkers, foundry workers, glass plant workers, cement plant workers, and aluminum smelter workers exposed to Harbison-Walker refractory bricks and mortar containing asbestos
- Workers who installed/removed refractory linings: Bricklayers, laborers, and maintenance workers who demolished or replaced refractory linings in industrial furnaces and kilns
How to File a DII Industries Trust Claim
- Consult a mesothelioma attorney: Given the complex corporate history of this trust, an attorney experienced with DII Industries claims is important. They will assess which entity within the trust is relevant to your exposure.
- Exposure documentation: Your attorney establishes whether your exposure was through Brown & Root construction work, Dresser equipment, or Harbison-Walker refractory products, compiling facility records and employment evidence.
- Medical documentation: Pathology report and diagnosis records are assembled.
- Claim submission: The attorney submits the claim package to the DII Industries Trust for the applicable subfund.
- Review and payment: The trust reviews and pays at the applicable rate for your subfund and disease category.
Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?
Yes. Workers exposed through Brown & Root construction projects typically also encountered multiple other asbestos products at those job sites, creating eligibility for Manville, Pittsburgh Corning, Owens Corning, and other insulation trusts. Steelworkers and foundry workers with Harbison-Walker exposure often also have claims related to other asbestos products used in steel mill environments. All applicable trust claims and lawsuits against solvent defendants can be filed simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
The DII Industries Trust covers asbestos liabilities from DII Industries LLC, Brown & Root Inc. (Halliburton’s engineering and construction subsidiary), Dresser Industries, Harbison-Walker Refractories Company, and Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR). These companies were connected through Halliburton’s acquisitions and restructuring, and their combined asbestos liabilities were consolidated into this trust.
Brown & Root was one of the largest engineering and construction contractors in the United States, executing industrial construction projects at refineries, chemical plants, offshore oil platforms, power plants, military installations, and other major facilities from the 1940s through the 1990s. Workers at Brown & Root job sites were exposed to asbestos insulation, fireproofing, and other asbestos materials that were standard in industrial construction during that era.
Harbison-Walker was one of the largest manufacturers of refractory products in the United States — materials used to line the interior of furnaces, kilns, boilers, and other high-temperature industrial equipment. Harbison-Walker’s refractory bricks, mortars, and castables contained asbestos. Workers who installed, removed, and worked near Harbison-Walker refractory linings at steel mills, glass plants, and other industrial facilities were exposed to asbestos fibers.