Porter Hayden Asbestos Trust

About the Porter Hayden Trust

Porter Hayden Co. was one of the nation's prominent insulation contracting firms operating throughout much of the twentieth century. The company specialized in the installation of industrial and commercial insulation, and for decades its workers routinely handled products containing chrysotile and amphibole asbestos. Pipe insulation, boiler lagging, mechanical insulation on industrial equipment — virtually every high-temperature application Porter Hayden addressed in power plants, refineries, shipyards, and manufacturing facilities involved asbestos-containing materials. Workers mixed, cut, and applied these materials daily, generating respirable asbestos dust that accumulated in their lungs over years and decades.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the wave of asbestos-related disease claims against insulation contractors had grown untenable. Porter Hayden Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002, citing an overwhelming asbestos liability that threatened to consume the company's assets entirely. After years of negotiations with creditors' committees, asbestos claimants' representatives, and the bankruptcy court, the Porter Hayden Asbestos Settlement Trust was formally established in 2006 under Section 524(g) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. This provision — designed specifically for asbestos bankruptcies — allows a company to channel all present and future asbestos claims through a dedicated trust, providing a structured and equitable resolution process for injured workers and their families.

Since its establishment, the Porter Hayden Trust has processed thousands of claims from workers across the country. The trust operates under Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP) that define eligible diseases, exposure criteria, evidentiary requirements, and payment schedules. Like virtually all asbestos trusts, Porter Hayden applies a payment percentage — currently 4% — which reflects the trust's projected assets relative to the total estimated value of all present and future claims. This payment percentage is reviewed periodically and may change over time.

Trust Fund Details

Note: Payment percentages are set by trust administrators and may be adjusted periodically. Consult an attorney for current figures at the time of filing.

Who Is Eligible to File a Porter Hayden Trust Claim?

The Porter Hayden Trust's eligibility criteria are defined in its Trust Distribution Procedures. To qualify, a claimant must demonstrate both a qualifying diagnosis and a meaningful occupational or secondary exposure to asbestos in connection with Porter Hayden Co. activities. The following occupational groups and exposure scenarios are commonly covered:

• Insulators: Workers who installed, removed, or maintained asbestos pipe and equipment insulation on Porter Hayden projects at power plants, refineries, chemical plants, and industrial facilities.
• Pipefitters and Steamfitters: Tradespeople who worked alongside Porter Hayden insulation crews and were exposed to asbestos dust generated during insulation application and removal.
• Boilermakers: Workers who operated in proximity to Porter Hayden-insulated boilers and associated equipment in power generation and industrial settings.
• Maintenance Workers: Plant and facility maintenance personnel who disturbed Porter Hayden-installed insulation during repair, renovation, or equipment replacement.
• Construction Laborers: General labor workers employed on projects where Porter Hayden Co. was a subcontractor performing insulation work.
• Shipyard Workers: Workers at naval shipyards and commercial shipbuilding facilities where Porter Hayden performed insulation contracting.
• Power Plant Workers: Operators, engineers, and maintenance staff at coal, oil, and gas-fired generating stations where Porter Hayden installed insulation systems.
• Refinery and Chemical Plant Workers: Process operators and maintenance employees at petrochemical facilities where Porter Hayden insulation was used on piping and equipment.
• Family Members (Secondary Exposure): Spouses, children, or other household members who were exposed to asbestos fibers carried home on the work clothing of a Porter Hayden employee.

The exposure must have occurred before the bankruptcy filing date, and the claimant must have a qualifying diagnosis such as mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis, or a related pleural condition. Statute of limitations issues should be discussed with an attorney, as time limits apply from the date of diagnosis.

How to File a Porter Hayden Trust Claim

Filing a trust claim involves gathering documentation, completing the trust's claim forms, and submitting the package to the trust administrator. An experienced mesothelioma attorney handles virtually all of this process on your behalf. The general steps are as follows:

1. Consult a Mesothelioma Attorney

   An attorney who specializes in asbestos litigation will evaluate your exposure history and identify all trusts — including Porter Hayden — for which you may qualify. Initial consultations are free and attorneys work on contingency.

2. Gather Medical Documentation

   You will need pathology reports, imaging studies (CT scans, X-rays), oncologist or pulmonologist records confirming your diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related disease, and, if applicable, death certificates and autopsy reports for deceased claimants.

3. Document Your Work History and Exposure

   Your attorney will work with you to reconstruct your occupational history, identifying specific job sites, employers, and time periods when you worked on or alongside Porter Hayden Co. projects. Co-worker affidavits, union records, Social Security earnings records, and employment files all serve as evidence.

4. Complete the Trust's Claim Forms

   The Porter Hayden Trust uses standardized claim submission forms as part of its TDP. Your attorney will complete these forms accurately and ensure all required attachments are included.

5. Select a Review Track

   Claimants with mesothelioma typically qualify for Expedited Review, which offers faster processing with a fixed payment. Individual Review is available for claims that do not meet Expedited Review criteria or where the claimant believes a higher value may be supported by the evidence.

6. Submit the Claim Package

   Your attorney submits the completed claim package to the trust administrator. The trust will review the submission for completeness and compliance with medical and exposure criteria.

7. Respond to Deficiency Notices

   The trust may issue a deficiency notice requesting additional documentation. Your attorney will respond promptly to keep the claim moving through the review process.

8. Receive and Accept or Appeal the Offer

   Once the trust approves the claim, it will issue a payment offer reflecting the scheduled value multiplied by the current payment percentage. You may accept the offer or, in some circumstances, request reconsideration or arbitration.

Can You File Claims With Other Trusts Too?

Yes — and in most mesothelioma cases, claimants are eligible to file with multiple asbestos trusts simultaneously. Mesothelioma victims were typically exposed to asbestos products from many different manufacturers and contractors over the course of their careers. Each company that contributed to that exposure and subsequently established a bankruptcy trust may be a source of compensation.

For example, a pipe insulator who worked on Porter Hayden projects may also have been exposed to Owens Corning Fiberglas insulation, Armstrong World Industries products, or Celotex Corporation materials — each of which has its own trust. An attorney will systematically identify every trust for which your exposure history qualifies and file concurrent claims. Filing trust claims does not prevent you from also pursuing a civil lawsuit against solvent (non-bankrupt) defendants.

Because trust payment percentages are relatively low — Porter Hayden pays only 4% — filing with every applicable trust is critical. A single trust may pay $10,000, but filing with 10 or 20 trusts, combined with lawsuit settlements, can result in total compensation of hundreds of thousands of dollars for mesothelioma victims and their families.

Frequently Asked Questions