About the PACOR Trust
Philadelphia Asbestos Corporation, known throughout the industry as PACOR, was one of the most significant asbestos distributors operating in the Mid-Atlantic United States during the mid-20th century. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PACOR built its business on the wholesale and retail distribution of asbestos-containing construction and industrial products, including thermal pipe insulation, block insulation, roofing materials, asbestos cement products, and related building supplies. These products were sold to contractors, industrial facilities, shipyards, power plants, refineries, and government installations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and surrounding states from approximately the 1930s through the 1970s. PACOR did not manufacture asbestos products itself; rather, it served as a critical link in the supply chain, distributing the products of major manufacturers directly to the job sites where workers encountered them daily.
As mesothelioma litigation exploded in the 1980s and plaintiffs' attorneys traced asbestos exposures back through the supply chain to distributors as well as manufacturers, PACOR faced a mounting avalanche of personal injury claims. The volume of litigation became unsustainable, and Philadelphia Asbestos Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the late 1980s. As part of the bankruptcy reorganization plan, a trust fund was established to provide a systematic mechanism for compensating asbestos claimants — both those whose claims were then pending and those whose asbestos-related diseases had not yet manifested. The PACOR Trust has operated since that time, processing claims from workers across the Mid-Atlantic region who can demonstrate exposure to PACOR-distributed products and who have developed qualifying asbestos-related conditions.
Trust Fund Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Trust Name | PACOR Asbestos Settlement Trust |
| Predecessor Company | Philadelphia Asbestos Corporation (PACOR) |
| Bankruptcy Filed | Late 1980s (Chapter 11) |
| Trust Established | Under bankruptcy reorganization plan |
| Payment Percentage | Variable; determined by claim type and documentation |
| Mesothelioma Claim Value | Variable; determined by exposure history, diagnosis, and documentation |
| Claims Processor | PACOR Trust administrator |
| Claim Types Accepted | Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease, other asbestos-related conditions |
| Products Covered | Asbestos insulation, roofing materials, pipe insulation, asbestos cement products distributed by PACOR |
| Primary Geographic Area | Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Mid-Atlantic region |
Compensation figures are variable and depend on individual claim circumstances. An asbestos attorney can provide estimates based on current trust payment procedures.
Who Is Eligible to File a PACOR Trust Claim
The PACOR Trust covers workers who were exposed to asbestos-containing products distributed by Philadelphia Asbestos Corporation. Eligibility requires both a qualifying diagnosis and documented exposure to PACOR-supplied materials. The following categories of workers are commonly eligible:
- Insulators and insulation workers who installed, removed, or worked around PACOR-distributed thermal and acoustic insulation products
- Pipefitters and plumbers who worked with PACOR pipe insulation on industrial, commercial, or residential job sites
- Roofers and sheet metal workers who handled PACOR asbestos-containing roofing materials, shingles, and felts
- Construction workers at building sites in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and surrounding states where PACOR products were used
- Boilermakers and steamfitters who worked in facilities that used PACOR insulation on boilers, pipes, and steam systems
- Shipyard workers at Delaware River and other Mid-Atlantic shipyards where PACOR products were used during construction and repair
- Power plant and refinery workers in the Mid-Atlantic region who were regularly exposed to PACOR-supplied insulation products
- Industrial maintenance employees at plants and facilities where PACOR products were installed and maintained
- Secondary (household) exposure claimants — family members of workers who were exposed through contact with asbestos-contaminated work clothing
Supporting documentation typically includes work history records, union employment records, co-worker testimony, site records from facilities known to have used PACOR products, and sworn affidavits establishing the presence of PACOR materials at specific job sites.
How to File a Claim with the PACOR Trust
- Retain an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Because PACOR served as a distributor rather than a manufacturer, documenting your specific exposure to PACOR-supplied products (as opposed to other suppliers' products) requires careful legal and factual work. An experienced asbestos attorney will know how to build this exposure case effectively.
- Gather your medical records. Obtain complete pathology reports, biopsy results, imaging studies, and physician letters documenting your mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diagnosis. The more thorough the medical documentation, the stronger your claim.
- Document your work history and exposure sites. Your attorney will compile a detailed work history covering every job site, employer, and time period where you may have encountered asbestos. For Mid-Atlantic workers, this often includes Philadelphia-area shipyards, power plants, industrial complexes, and construction projects where PACOR was a known supplier.
- Identify PACOR product exposure specifically. The trust requires evidence connecting your exposure specifically to PACOR-distributed products. This may come from co-worker affidavits, product delivery records, jobsite documentation, and your own testimony about products you used or observed.
- Complete and file the trust claim form. Your attorney prepares the claim package — including the official claim form, medical records, exposure documentation, and any required affidavits — and submits it to the PACOR Trust administrator.
- Cooperate with any trust review or audit. The trust may request additional documentation or verification of certain claims. Your attorney will respond promptly on your behalf to avoid delays.
- Review and accept the settlement determination. Once the trust issues its determination, your attorney will advise you on whether the offer is fair, whether to accept, and how it fits into your overall compensation strategy.
Can You File Other Claims in Addition to the PACOR Trust?
Absolutely. Workers who were exposed to PACOR-distributed asbestos products on Mid-Atlantic job sites almost certainly encountered asbestos from multiple other suppliers and manufacturers as well. Asbestos insulation from Johns Manville, Owens Corning, Armstrong, Celotex, Carey Canada, and many other companies was commonly used side-by-side with PACOR-supplied materials on construction and industrial projects of the era. Each separate manufacturer or distributor that contributed to your asbestos exposure may represent an independent source of trust fund compensation.
In addition to asbestos trust claims, mesothelioma victims may pursue lawsuits against companies that remain financially solvent — those that have not gone through asbestos-related bankruptcy — and that contributed to their exposure. These lawsuits can result in significantly higher verdicts and settlements than trust fund payments alone. The two avenues — trust claims and litigation — are not mutually exclusive and are frequently pursued in parallel by mesothelioma attorneys. Veterans who served in the U.S. Navy or at military facilities where asbestos was prevalent may also have access to additional benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PACOR Trust was established as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization of Philadelphia Asbestos Corporation, one of the largest asbestos distributors in the Mid-Atlantic United States. The trust compensates workers who were exposed to asbestos insulation, roofing, pipe insulation, and related products that PACOR distributed across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and surrounding states, and who subsequently developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.
The PACOR Trust covers exposure to asbestos-containing products that Philadelphia Asbestos Corporation distributed, including thermal and acoustic pipe insulation, block insulation, roofing materials, asbestos cement products, and related industrial and construction materials. PACOR was a distributor, not a manufacturer, so claims must establish that the specific asbestos products you encountered were distributed by PACOR specifically.
PACOR Trust compensation is variable and depends on the specific disease diagnosed, the type and documented duration of asbestos exposure, corroborating evidence of PACOR product involvement, and the trust's current payment procedures and payment percentage. Mesothelioma claims receive the highest scheduled values. Your attorney can provide a current estimate once your full exposure and medical documentation has been compiled.
Yes. Because PACOR was a distributor rather than a manufacturer, you must demonstrate that the specific asbestos-containing products you encountered on the job were supplied by PACOR. This is typically established through co-worker affidavits, job site records, PACOR delivery documentation, and testimony about product identification. An experienced asbestos attorney familiar with PACOR's distribution history can help build this evidence effectively.
Yes. Filing a claim with the PACOR Trust does not prevent you from also pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against other solvent defendants that contributed to your asbestos exposure. Many mesothelioma victims pursue both paths simultaneously with the guidance of their attorney. Trust claims and litigation are complementary strategies that together can maximize your total compensation.
While PACOR's operations were concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic region, the trust accepts claims from workers throughout the United States who can document exposure to PACOR-distributed products, regardless of the state where exposure occurred. PACOR products were distributed beyond Pennsylvania's borders. Your attorney will assess whether your specific exposure history supports a valid PACOR Trust claim regardless of your home state.