About Federal-Mogul Products and Its Asbestos Liability
Federal-Mogul Corporation was one of the largest automotive and industrial parts manufacturers in the world, producing engine components, sealing systems, friction products, and gaskets for automotive OEM manufacturers, aftermarket repair shops, and industrial customers. Federal-Mogul Products, Inc. (FMP) was its primary U.S. operating subsidiary for these product lines.
Federal-Mogul’s friction products — including brake linings, clutch facings, and disc brake pads — contained asbestos for decades. These products were installed in automobiles, trucks, buses, farm equipment, industrial machinery, and railroad rolling stock. Auto mechanics who performed brake jobs and clutch replacements, as well as factory workers who manufactured these parts, were exposed to asbestos fibers generated during grinding, drilling, cutting, and fitting operations.
Federal-Mogul also manufactured asbestos-containing gaskets and sealing materials used in engines, exhaust systems, and industrial equipment throughout the country. Workers who replaced cylinder head gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets, and other engine seals were exposed to asbestos when cutting, fitting, and scraping these materials.
When Federal-Mogul filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2001, the reorganization plan established the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust with two subfunds: the T&N Subfund (covering Turner & Newall product liability) and the FMP Subfund (covering Federal-Mogul Products liability). The FMP Subfund has a substantially higher payment percentage, reflecting the larger funding commitment for this subfund.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — FMP Subfund |
| Predecessor Company | Federal-Mogul Products, Inc. |
| Federal-Mogul Bankruptcy | October 2001 |
| Payment Percentage | 12.2% |
| Key Products | Brake linings, clutch facings, disc brake pads, engine gaskets, sealing materials |
| Primary Markets | Automotive (OEM & aftermarket), industrial, commercial vehicles |
| Primary Exposure Groups | Auto mechanics, brake/clutch repair workers, factory assembly workers, industrial maintenance |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
At 12.2%, the FMP Subfund provides a significantly higher return than the companion T&N Subfund (3.9%). Workers eligible for both subfunds — because their exposure included products from both companies — can file with both simultaneously to maximize recovery from this trust family.
Who Is Eligible to File with the FMP Subfund?
Eligibility requires exposure to Federal-Mogul Products asbestos-containing friction materials or gaskets and a qualifying disease diagnosis.
Eligible occupations:
- Auto mechanics and brake repair technicians who used Federal-Mogul brake linings and clutch facings
- Fleet mechanics and service technicians at truck fleets, bus companies, and government vehicle fleets
- Factory workers at Federal-Mogul Products manufacturing facilities who made brake linings and clutch facings
- Industrial maintenance workers who used Federal-Mogul gaskets in equipment repair
- Engine rebuilders and machinists who handled Federal-Mogul engine gaskets
- Railroad maintenance workers who used Federal-Mogul friction products on railroad equipment
- Farm equipment mechanics who serviced agricultural machinery with Federal-Mogul friction parts
Qualifying diagnoses: mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease, and other asbestos-related conditions.
How to File an FMP Subfund Claim
- Attorney consultation: Your attorney will assess your work history for Federal-Mogul Products friction material and gasket exposure, including specific brands used and time periods.
- Exposure documentation: Evidence of exposure to Federal-Mogul Products materials is compiled, including employer records, parts catalogs, and co-worker affidavits.
- Medical documentation: Pathology report and diagnosis records are assembled to establish the qualifying disease category.
- Claim submission: Your attorney submits the completed claim package to the Federal-Mogul Trust administrator for the FMP Subfund.
- Parallel T&N Subfund filing: If you also used Ferodo or other T&N products, your attorney can simultaneously file with the T&N Subfund.
- Review and payment: The trust pays at 12.2% of the applicable scheduled value upon approval.
Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?
Yes. Auto mechanics and industrial workers with Federal-Mogul Products exposure commonly have additional trust claims based on other asbestos friction and gasket products they worked with, including Raytech (Raybestos), the T&N Subfund (Ferodo), and others. Industrial workers may also have claims for insulation exposure at plants where they worked. All applicable trust claims and lawsuits against solvent defendants can proceed simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FMP Subfund pays at approximately 12.2% of the scheduled disease value — significantly higher than the companion T&N Subfund (3.9%). This reflects a larger proportional funding commitment for the FMP pool. For workers with Federal-Mogul Products exposure, this is a more significant trust fund payment compared to many other automotive product trusts.
The FMP Subfund covers asbestos-containing friction products (brake linings, clutch facings, disc brake pads) and gaskets manufactured by Federal-Mogul Products, Inc. These products were sold to automotive OEM manufacturers, aftermarket distributors, and industrial customers under various Federal-Mogul and related brand names.
Yes. If your exposure history includes both Federal-Mogul Products materials and Turner & Newall (Ferodo) products, you may file with both subfunds simultaneously through the same Federal-Mogul Trust administrator. Each claim is evaluated and paid from the respective subfund independently — they do not offset each other.
Yes. Auto mechanics are one of the primary eligible occupations for the FMP Subfund. Mechanics who performed brake jobs, clutch replacements, and engine gasket work using Federal-Mogul Products materials were exposed to asbestos fibers released during grinding, drilling, and cleaning operations. Studies of auto mechanics have documented elevated mesothelioma rates, and this trust was specifically established to compensate victims in this occupational group, among others.