About GM’s Asbestos Liability and the Motors Liquidation Corp Trust
General Motors Corporation was the world’s largest automaker for much of the twentieth century, manufacturing Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, GMC, and other vehicle brands at dozens of assembly plants and components factories across the United States. Like all automobile manufacturers of the era, GM used asbestos-containing materials in its vehicles as original equipment.
The primary asbestos-containing components in GM vehicles included:
- Brake pads and brake shoes: Disc brake pads and drum brake shoes contained asbestos fibers, which provided heat resistance and friction properties needed for effective braking. When mechanics replaced brakes on GM vehicles, grinding and cleaning operations released asbestos fibers.
- Clutch facings: Manual transmission clutch components contained asbestos. Mechanics who replaced clutches on GM vehicles were exposed to asbestos dust during this work.
- Engine gaskets and seals: Head gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets, and other engine sealing components contained asbestos. Mechanics who performed engine work on GM vehicles encountered these materials.
- Heat shields and insulation: Various heat protection components in GM vehicles contained asbestos.
GM also operated large manufacturing plants where workers were exposed to asbestos insulation, gaskets, and other asbestos materials used in the plant infrastructure and equipment.
When GM filed for bankruptcy in June 2009, the restructuring created a new GM entity that acquired the profitable operations, while the old entity (renamed Motors Liquidation Company, or MLC) retained certain legacy liabilities. Asbestos personal injury claims from pre-bankruptcy exposure are among the liabilities administered by the Motors Liquidation Corp Trust.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Trust Name | Motors Liquidation Corp Trust (Asbestos PI claims) |
| Predecessor Company | General Motors Corporation (old GM) |
| GM Bankruptcy Filing | June 2009 |
| Payment Percentage | Variable; contact attorney for current rates |
| Key Asbestos Products | Brake pads, brake shoes, clutch facings, engine gaskets in GM vehicles; asbestos at GM plants |
| Primary Claimant Groups | Auto mechanics, GM assembly plant workers, GM components factory workers |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease |
Because this trust arose from the GM bankruptcy in 2009 — a relatively recent and unusual asbestos trust — current payment percentages and scheduled values should be verified through your attorney, as they may differ from longer-established trusts.
Who Is Eligible to File with the Motors Liquidation Corp Trust?
Eligibility requires documented exposure to asbestos-containing components in GM vehicles or at GM facilities, combined with a qualifying diagnosis.
Eligible occupations and exposure scenarios:
- Auto mechanics and brake technicians who replaced brakes and clutches on GM vehicles (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, GMC)
- Dealership service technicians at GM dealerships who performed brake and clutch service
- Fleet mechanics and service technicians who maintained GM truck and bus fleets
- GM assembly plant workers at GM vehicle manufacturing facilities
- Workers at GM components plants (engine plants, transmission plants, brake component plants)
- Engine rebuilders and machinists who worked on GM engines with asbestos gaskets
How to File a Motors Liquidation Corp Trust Claim
- Consult a mesothelioma attorney: Given the unique circumstances of this trust arising from a 2009 bankruptcy, attorney experience with this specific trust’s procedures is important.
- Document GM vehicle service: Your employment records from dealerships, repair shops, or fleets showing you serviced GM vehicles are important evidence. Parts records showing GM brake and clutch component purchases can also help.
- Medical documentation: Pathology report and diagnosis records are assembled.
- Claim submission: Your attorney submits the claim to the trust administrator.
- Review and payment: The trust reviews and pays at the applicable rate upon approval.
Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?
Yes. Auto mechanics who serviced GM vehicles typically also serviced vehicles from other manufacturers, creating exposure to brake and clutch components from Federal-Mogul, Raybestos, and other brands covered by separate trusts. All applicable claims, including the Motors Liquidation Corp Trust, the Federal-Mogul FMP Subfund, and the Raytech Trust, can be filed simultaneously. Lawsuits against solvent asbestos defendants can also proceed at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. General Motors vehicles manufactured through much of the 1970s and into the 1980s used asbestos-containing brake pads, brake shoes, clutch facings, and engine gaskets as original equipment. These components were standard throughout the automotive industry during this era, and asbestos provided the friction and heat resistance properties needed. Mechanics who performed brake and clutch replacement on GM vehicles, and who ground, cleaned, or blew out brake assemblies, were exposed to asbestos fibers.
No. The new General Motors Company that emerged from the 2009 bankruptcy acquired GM’s profitable operations but is generally not responsible for pre-bankruptcy asbestos claims. Those claims are the responsibility of the old GM entity, now called Motors Liquidation Company, and are administered through the Motors Liquidation Corp Trust. Your attorney can clarify the exact legal structure and what it means for your claim.
Workers at GM assembly plants, engine plants, transmission plants, and other GM manufacturing facilities who were exposed to asbestos insulation, gaskets, and other asbestos materials in the plant environment may have claims through this trust. GM’s large manufacturing facilities, like other industrial plants of the mid-twentieth century, used asbestos insulation on steam pipes and equipment extensively.