About Eagle-Picher Industries and Its Asbestos Liability
Eagle-Picher Industries was a diversified industrial manufacturer based in Cincinnati, Ohio, with roots dating to the mid-nineteenth century. Over its long corporate history, Eagle-Picher grew into a multi-division conglomerate producing an extraordinary range of products: industrial machinery, mining equipment, automotive parts, specialty batteries, electronic components, defense systems, and construction materials. Many of these product lines incorporated asbestos during the mid-twentieth century.
Eagle-Picher’s asbestos-containing products fell into several distinct categories. The company manufactured industrial thermal insulation products — including pipe insulation, block insulation, and insulating cements — used in power plants, refineries, shipyards, and industrial facilities. Eagle-Picher also made automotive components including brake linings, clutch facings, and gaskets that contained asbestos. Additionally, Eagle-Picher supplied specialty industrial machinery and equipment with asbestos components to military and commercial customers.
The company faced asbestos personal injury claims for decades before ultimately filing for bankruptcy in 1991. The court-supervised EPI trust was established to compensate victims of Eagle-Picher product exposure. The trust was funded at a level sufficient to pay 100% of the scheduled disease value — the most favorable payment percentage available under the bankruptcy trust system.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Eagle-Picher Industries Personal Injury Settlement Trust (EPI Trust) |
| Predecessor Company | Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. |
| Payment Percentage | 100% (full scheduled value) |
| Claims Administrator | CPF (Claims Processing Facility) |
| Products | Industrial pipe insulation, block insulation, insulating cement, brake linings, clutch facings, gaskets, industrial machinery components |
| Primary Exposed Populations | Industrial workers, insulators, factory workers, mechanics, military personnel, construction workers |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
The 100% payment percentage makes the Eagle-Picher trust one of the most valuable individual trust claims available to eligible mesothelioma victims. Workers who were exposed to Eagle-Picher insulation or automotive products should have this trust identified and pursued as a priority by their mesothelioma attorney.
Eagle-Picher Asbestos Products and Exposure Types
Eagle-Picher’s asbestos products spanned multiple industries, creating exposure pathways for a broad population of workers:
- Industrial insulation: Eagle-Picher manufactured pipe covering, block insulation, insulating cement, and related thermal insulation products used in power plants, refineries, chemical plants, and industrial facilities. Insulators, pipefitters, and boilermakers who applied or disturbed Eagle-Picher insulation were directly exposed.
- Brake linings and clutch facings: Eagle-Picher made automotive friction products containing asbestos used in brake systems and clutch assemblies. Mechanics who machined, installed, or serviced these parts were exposed to asbestos dust during grinding, cutting, and installation.
- Gaskets and packing: Eagle-Picher produced asbestos gaskets and packing materials used throughout industrial piping and pressure vessel systems.
- Specialty industrial machinery: Eagle-Picher’s diverse manufacturing operations included specialty industrial machinery and equipment with asbestos components supplied to military and commercial buyers.
Who Is Eligible to File with the Eagle-Picher EPI Trust?
Eligibility requires documented exposure to Eagle-Picher asbestos-containing products along with a qualifying medical diagnosis:
- Insulators and pipefitters: Workers who applied or removed Eagle-Picher insulation at industrial facilities, power plants, refineries, and shipyards.
- Factory workers: Employees at facilities that used Eagle-Picher industrial machinery or equipment with asbestos components.
- Auto mechanics: Workers who serviced vehicles with Eagle-Picher brake linings or clutch facings, particularly those who machined or blew out brake drums and clutch housings.
- Military veterans: Eagle-Picher was a defense contractor, and military personnel who worked with Eagle-Picher products during military service may have qualifying claims.
- Construction and maintenance workers: Workers at industrial facilities where Eagle-Picher insulation products were in use or being replaced.
Qualifying diagnoses: mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural conditions.
How to File an Eagle-Picher Trust Claim
- Consult a mesothelioma attorney: Your attorney will identify all Eagle-Picher products you were exposed to across your work history.
- Document product exposure: Employment records, military service records, co-worker testimony, and product identification evidence are used to establish Eagle-Picher product exposure.
- Compile medical records: Pathology reports and diagnostic records for mesothelioma or other qualifying disease are assembled.
- Submit to CPF: Your attorney submits the complete claim package to the CPF administrator handling the Eagle-Picher EPI Trust.
- Review and full payment: The trust reviews the claim and pays at 100% of the scheduled disease value upon approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 100% payment percentage is what sets the Eagle-Picher trust apart. Most asbestos trusts pay a fraction of the scheduled value — often 5% to 35% — to ensure the trust can pay all future claimants. The Eagle-Picher trust was funded at a level sufficient to pay 100% of scheduled values, making each individual claim payment as large as possible. This makes identifying Eagle-Picher product exposure a priority in any comprehensive trust fund strategy.
Eagle-Picher’s asbestos-containing products included industrial thermal insulation (pipe insulation, block insulation, insulating cement), automotive friction products (brake linings, clutch facings), industrial gaskets and packing, and specialty machinery components. The company’s diverse product mix means many different occupations and industries may have Eagle-Picher exposure claims.
Yes. Eagle-Picher products were present at many of the same facilities and in many of the same industries as products from Manville, Owens Corning, and other asbestos manufacturers. All applicable trust claims can be filed simultaneously. The Eagle-Picher claim is a priority given its 100% payment percentage, but your attorney will identify and pursue every applicable trust as part of comprehensive case representation.
Yes. Eagle-Picher was a significant defense contractor and supplier of industrial products to the U.S. military. Veterans who worked with Eagle-Picher products during military service — including industrial insulation, machinery, or specialized equipment — may have qualifying claims. A mesothelioma attorney with experience in military asbestos cases can evaluate your service record for applicable product exposures.