About the Leslie Controls Trust
Leslie Controls, Inc. was a Tampa, Florida-based manufacturer of precision fluid control equipment — principally control valves, steam traps, pressure reducing valves, and related products used to regulate the flow of steam, water, gases, and other fluids in industrial applications. Leslie Controls' products were widely used throughout the 20th century in power generating plants, oil refineries, petrochemical facilities, shipyards, naval vessels, and manufacturing plants where high-pressure steam systems required precise regulation. The company's control valves and steam traps were known for reliability and were installed in enormous quantities at major industrial facilities across the country and on U.S. Navy ships.
The asbestos exposure associated with Leslie Controls products arose from the asbestos-containing valve packing, stem packing, gaskets, and insulation materials that were incorporated into and used in the maintenance of these products. When pipefitters, steamfitters, and maintenance workers repacked valve stems, replaced gaskets, or worked on steam systems containing Leslie valves and traps, they disturbed asbestos-containing materials and inhaled the resulting dust — a particularly hazardous activity that was performed routinely throughout plant maintenance operations for decades. As the toll of asbestos-related disease became apparent among former workers, Leslie Controls faced a growing volume of personal injury claims that threatened the company's financial viability. Leslie Controls, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2010, and the Leslie Controls Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in 2011 pursuant to the confirmed reorganization plan to resolve all present and future asbestos personal injury claims against the company.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Trust Name | Leslie Controls Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust |
| Predecessor Company | Leslie Controls, Inc. |
| Bankruptcy Filed | July 2010 (Chapter 11) |
| Trust Established | 2011 |
| Payment Percentage | Variable; determined per claim |
| Mesothelioma Claim Value | Typically $40,000–$120,000 depending on exposure documentation |
| Claims Processor | Leslie Controls Trust administrator |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease, other asbestos-related diseases |
| Products Covered | Leslie control valves, steam traps, pressure reducing valves — asbestos packing, gaskets, and insulation associated with these products |
| Primary Worksites | Power plants, oil refineries, chemical plants, shipyards, U.S. Navy vessels, manufacturing facilities |
Compensation ranges are estimates based on historical claim data. Actual amounts depend on individual exposure documentation and the trust's current payment percentage.
Who Is Eligible to File a Claim
The Leslie Controls Trust accepts claims from workers who can demonstrate a qualifying asbestos-related diagnosis and documented exposure to asbestos-containing materials associated with Leslie Controls products. Eligible claimants include:
- Pipefitters and steamfitters who regularly installed, maintained, repaired, or replaced Leslie control valves and steam traps at industrial facilities and power plants
- Industrial maintenance mechanics who serviced Leslie valves by repacking valve stems with asbestos-containing packing materials or replacing asbestos gaskets
- Boilermakers working on steam systems where Leslie controls and traps were integral components
- Power plant workers at coal-fired, nuclear, and other power generation facilities where Leslie equipment was installed throughout steam distribution systems
- Refinery and chemical plant workers who maintained process control systems incorporating Leslie valves and traps
- Shipyard workers and U.S. Navy personnel who installed or maintained Leslie Controls equipment on naval vessels and merchant ships
- Millwrights and general maintenance workers at industrial facilities where Leslie valves were part of the plant infrastructure
- HVAC and plumbing contractors in large commercial or institutional buildings where Leslie steam control equipment was installed
- Secondary (household) exposure claimants — family members of workers who were exposed through contact with asbestos-contaminated work clothing or equipment
Claims are stronger when supported by documentation specifically identifying Leslie Controls valves or steam traps at the worksites in question. Product identification can come from plant records, piping and instrumentation diagrams, purchasing records, co-worker affidavits, and your own testimony about specific product identification.
How to File a Claim with the Leslie Controls Trust
- Consult a mesothelioma attorney with valve and industrial equipment exposure experience. Leslie Controls claims require specific product identification — distinguishing Leslie-brand valves from the many other control valve manufacturers whose products may have been present at the same facilities. An experienced attorney knows how to research this and build product-specific exposure evidence.
- Gather complete medical documentation. Obtain all pathology reports, biopsy results, CT scans, X-rays, and physician letters confirming your mesothelioma or other asbestos-related disease. Thorough medical records are the foundation of a successful trust claim.
- Document your industrial work history in detail. Your attorney will construct a comprehensive occupational history, identifying every industrial employer, facility, and time period relevant to your asbestos exposure, with particular emphasis on facilities known to have used Leslie Controls equipment in their steam or process systems.
- Identify Leslie Controls product exposure specifically. Evidence may include plant maintenance records or work orders referencing Leslie brand equipment, piping diagrams, purchasing records, affidavits from co-workers or supervisors, and your own testimony about specific product identification at worksites.
- Prepare and submit the formal claim package. Your attorney assembles all documentation — claim form, medical records, work history, exposure evidence — and submits it to the Leslie Controls Trust administrator. For mesothelioma patients, an expedited review request is standard.
- Respond promptly to any trust audit requests. The trust administrator may request clarification or supplemental documentation. Your attorney responds on your behalf to avoid processing delays.
- Review the settlement determination. After the trust issues its finding, your attorney will advise on whether to accept, request review, or pursue additional remedies, and will coordinate the Leslie Controls payment with any other trust and litigation settlements.
Can You File Other Claims in Addition to the Leslie Controls Trust?
Yes. Industrial facilities typically contained control valves, steam traps, and associated equipment from many manufacturers — Crane Co., Velan, Yarway, Anchor Darling, Flowserve, and many others — in addition to Leslie Controls. Workers who serviced valves and piping systems regularly encountered asbestos-containing packing and gaskets from multiple manufacturers. Each manufacturer that has established an asbestos bankruptcy trust represents a separate source of compensation. Similarly, workers often performed work involving asbestos insulation, asbestos-containing flange gaskets from gasket manufacturers (such as Gasket Holdings, a Dana Corp. successor), and other asbestos products beyond those specifically associated with Leslie Controls valves.
Personal injury lawsuits against non-bankrupt defendants are also available and are not barred by the filing of trust claims. These lawsuits can be filed simultaneously with trust claims and may yield substantially higher compensation. Power plant workers, shipyard workers, refinery workers, and others who worked in heavily industrial environments typically have the broadest range of both trust and litigation options available to them, because they encountered asbestos from the widest variety of product types and manufacturers. An experienced mesothelioma law firm will identify and pursue every available compensation source for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Leslie Controls Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in 2011 following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Leslie Controls, Inc., filed in July 2010. Leslie Controls manufactured control valves, steam traps, and related fluid control equipment used extensively in power plants, refineries, shipyards, and industrial facilities. The asbestos-containing packing, gaskets, and insulation used in and with these products exposed pipefitters, maintenance workers, and others to asbestos over many decades. The trust compensates individuals who developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases from this exposure.
The primary source of asbestos exposure from Leslie Controls products was the asbestos-containing valve packing, stem packing, and gasket materials used in and around Leslie control valves and steam traps. These materials were routinely disturbed when workers performed valve repacking, maintenance, or repairs — activities that generated asbestos dust. Asbestos was also present in the external insulation applied to piping systems where Leslie valves were installed.
The Leslie Controls Trust pays variable compensation determined by disease category, exposure documentation, and the trust's current payment percentage. For mesothelioma claims, compensation has typically ranged from approximately $40,000 to $120,000. The specific amount depends on the quality of exposure evidence specifically linking your disease to Leslie Controls products and the scheduled value assigned to your disease category under the trust's payment matrix.
Yes. Leslie Controls valves and steam traps were extensively used on U.S. Navy vessels and at naval shipyards. Navy veterans who served in engineering spaces, boiler rooms, or other areas where Leslie equipment was installed and maintained, and who subsequently developed mesothelioma, may be eligible for the Leslie Controls Trust. Navy veterans may also be eligible for VA benefits in addition to civil compensation. An asbestos attorney can help identify all compensation sources available to veterans.
Product identification is critical for the Leslie Controls Trust. Evidence that establishes your exposure to Leslie-brand specifically can include: plant maintenance records or work orders identifying Leslie equipment; piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) from facilities where you worked; purchasing or inventory records showing Leslie products were in use; affidavits from former co-workers or supervisors; and your own sworn testimony about products you can specifically identify. An experienced attorney will know how to research each facility's equipment history.
Yes. A single claimant can establish exposure to Leslie Controls equipment at multiple different job sites and worksites over their career. Each valid exposure contributes to your overall eligibility and can support a stronger claim. Your attorney will document all facilities where you encountered Leslie equipment and compile this into a comprehensive exposure narrative.