About Turner & Newall and the T&N Subfund
Turner & Newall Ltd. (T&N) was founded in Rochdale, England in the early twentieth century and grew to become one of the largest asbestos companies in the world. At its peak, T&N operated asbestos mines, manufacturing plants, and distribution networks on every inhabited continent. The company’s products included asbestos textiles, friction materials (under the Ferodo brand), gaskets and packing materials, insulation, and asbestos-cement products.
T&N products entered the U.S. market through subsidiaries and distribution agreements, with Ferodo brake linings and clutch facings becoming particularly well-known among auto mechanics and industrial workers. T&N also operated U.S. manufacturing facilities that produced asbestos-containing products for the American market. The company was widely criticized for knowing about the health hazards of asbestos decades before that information was made public, and for continuing to market asbestos products aggressively despite this knowledge.
Federal-Mogul Corporation acquired T&N in 1998, inheriting its massive asbestos liability. When Federal-Mogul itself filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2001, the reorganization plan established the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust, with separate subfunds to cover different corporate liabilities. The T&N Subfund handles the asbestos claims arising from T&N’s U.S. operations and product sales.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Trust Name | Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — T&N Subfund |
| Predecessor Company | Turner & Newall Ltd. (acquired by Federal-Mogul 1998) |
| Federal-Mogul Bankruptcy | October 2001 |
| Payment Percentage | 3.9% |
| Key Products / Brand | Ferodo brake linings and clutch facings; asbestos gaskets, insulation, and textiles under T&N brands |
| Primary Exposure Groups | Auto mechanics, industrial workers, brake and clutch repair workers |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
At 3.9%, the T&N Subfund has a lower payment percentage than the companion FMP Subfund (12.2%). Workers who were exposed to products from both T&N and Federal-Mogul Products may be eligible to file with both subfunds simultaneously.
Who Is Eligible to File with the T&N Subfund?
Eligibility requires documented exposure to T&N asbestos products in the United States and a qualifying asbestos disease diagnosis.
Eligible occupations and exposure scenarios:
- Auto mechanics who installed or removed Ferodo brand brake linings and clutch facings
- Industrial maintenance workers who used Ferodo friction products on industrial machinery
- Brake and clutch repair specialists at auto dealerships, fleet garages, and repair shops
- Factory workers at T&N or T&N subsidiary manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
- Industrial workers who used T&N asbestos gaskets, packing, and insulation materials
- Workers at railroads, mines, and heavy industrial facilities that used T&N products
Qualifying diagnoses: mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques with functional impairment, and diffuse pleural thickening.
How to File a T&N Subfund Claim
- Consult a mesothelioma attorney: Your attorney will assess your work history for T&N product exposure, particularly Ferodo friction products.
- Establish T&N product exposure: Documentation of exposure to Ferodo-branded or other T&N-manufactured asbestos products in the U.S. is compiled, including employer records and product identification evidence.
- Medical documentation: Pathology report and diagnosis records are assembled.
- Claim submission: Your attorney submits the claim to the Federal-Mogul Trust administrator for the T&N Subfund.
- Review and payment: The trust pays at 3.9% of the applicable scheduled value upon approval.
Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?
Yes. Workers eligible for the T&N Subfund may also be eligible for the FMP Subfund if their exposure included Federal-Mogul Products friction materials or gaskets. Auto mechanics with broad asbestos friction product exposure may have additional claims with the Raytech Trust and other automotive product trusts. All applicable claims can be filed simultaneously, and lawsuits against solvent defendants can proceed at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The T&N Subfund pays at approximately 3.9% of the scheduled disease value. This is lower than the companion FMP Subfund (12.2%), reflecting the different funding and claim profiles of each subfund. Despite the low percentage, filing is worthwhile as part of a comprehensive multi-trust strategy.
Turner & Newall Ltd. was one of the world’s largest asbestos manufacturers, headquartered in Rochdale, England. The company mined asbestos, manufactured asbestos products, and marketed them globally for over a century. T&N is particularly associated with Ferodo brake and friction products, asbestos textile products, and insulation materials. It was acquired by Federal-Mogul in 1998 and its U.S. asbestos liabilities were incorporated into the Federal-Mogul bankruptcy proceedings.
Ferodo was Turner & Newall’s brand name for friction products including brake linings, clutch facings, disc brake pads, and industrial friction materials. Ferodo products were distributed globally and were widely used in automotive repair shops, vehicle manufacturing plants, and industrial facilities. The asbestos content in Ferodo brake linings created significant exposure risks for auto mechanics and brake repair workers who ground, drilled, or otherwise disturbed these products.
Yes. The T&N Subfund and the FMP Subfund are separate pools of money within the same Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust. The T&N Subfund covers claims arising from Turner & Newall products used in the U.S. The FMP Subfund covers Federal-Mogul Products, Inc. claims. Each subfund has its own payment percentage (T&N: 3.9%; FMP: 12.2%). Workers with exposure to both companies’ products may file with both subfunds simultaneously.