Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust

About the Yarway Trust

Yarway Corporation was a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of steam traps, control valves, pressure regulators, and related industrial piping equipment. Founded in the early twentieth century, Yarway supplied products to power plants, oil refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, and industrial facilities throughout the United States and internationally. For much of the mid-twentieth century, Yarway's products incorporated asbestos-containing gaskets, valve packing, and insulating materials — components essential to withstanding the extreme heat and pressure conditions in which the equipment operated.

Workers who installed, repaired, or maintained Yarway steam equipment were routinely exposed to asbestos fibers released when gaskets were cut or removed and when packing materials were replaced. Pipefitters, steamfitters, boilermakers, and power plant mechanics frequently worked directly with these components without adequate respiratory protection. Many did not learn of their resulting asbestos exposure until decades later when they were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer. As litigation against Yarway mounted in the early 2000s and accelerated through the following decade, the company's financial resources were overwhelmed by the volume of claims.

Yarway Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in 2013. Following confirmation of a reorganization plan, the Yarway Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in 2015 to resolve all present and future claims related to Yarway asbestos exposure. The trust is administered by an independent trustee in accordance with a Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP) document that establishes eligibility criteria, medical requirements, claim values, and payment percentages. Since its inception, the trust has processed thousands of claims from workers and family members harmed by Yarway asbestos products.

Trust Fund Details

Note: Payment percentages are subject to periodic adjustment by the trustee. Actual payments may vary. Consult an asbestos attorney for current figures.

Who Is Eligible to File a Yarway Trust Claim?

To file a successful claim with the Yarway Trust, you must demonstrate that you were exposed to asbestos from Yarway Corporation products and that you subsequently developed a qualifying asbestos-related disease. The trust's TDP identifies specific occupations, industries, and job sites most commonly associated with Yarway asbestos exposure. Eligible claimants generally include:

• Pipefitters and steamfitters who installed, repaired, or removed Yarway steam traps and control valves in industrial settings
• Boilermakers who worked on or near boiler systems where Yarway components were used
• Power plant workers at coal, oil, gas, and nuclear generation facilities that relied on Yarway steam equipment
• Oil refinery workers and petrochemical plant employees who maintained Yarway valve and trap systems
• Maintenance mechanics and millwrights at industrial facilities that used Yarway piping products
• Insulators who worked alongside pipefitters on systems containing Yarway components
• Paper mill workers and other industrial employees at facilities with Yarway steam systems
• Navy and shipyard workers who worked on naval vessels using Yarway steam components
• Secondary (household) exposure victims — family members of workers who brought asbestos fibers home on clothing

Exposure must have occurred during the period when Yarway products contained asbestos, generally from the 1940s through the early 1990s. The qualifying diagnosis must be one recognized by the trust's TDP, with mesothelioma carrying the highest scheduled value.

How to File a Yarway Trust Claim

Trust claims are almost always handled by experienced asbestos attorneys who work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless you recover compensation. The following outlines the general filing process:

1. Consult an asbestos attorney. An attorney who specializes in mesothelioma and asbestos trust claims can evaluate your work history, identify all applicable trusts (often multiple), and handle the entire claims process for you at no upfront cost.
2. Gather medical documentation. You will need pathology reports confirming the mesothelioma or asbestos disease diagnosis, along with medical records from treating physicians. For mesothelioma, a tissue biopsy confirming the diagnosis is typically required.
3. Document your work and exposure history. Prepare a detailed employment history covering all jobs where Yarway equipment was present. Co-worker affidavits, union records, Social Security earnings statements, and employer records all help support exposure claims.
4. Your attorney submits the claim form. The Yarway Trust uses standardized claim forms developed under the TDP. Your attorney prepares and submits the form along with all supporting documents to the trust's claims processor.
5. Choose a review path. Most mesothelioma claimants elect Expedited Review, which offers faster resolution at the fixed scheduled value. Individual Review is available for claims that may warrant higher payment based on unusual circumstances.
6. The trust reviews and makes an offer. The trust evaluates your documentation for medical and exposure criteria. If approved, the trust offers payment at the current payment percentage of 27.5%.
7. Accept payment and receive funds. Upon acceptance, the trust issues payment. Your attorney's contingency fee is deducted from the settlement. The process from filing to payment typically takes 6 to 18 months for mesothelioma claims.

Can You File Other Claims at the Same Time?

Yes — and most mesothelioma patients are entitled to file claims with multiple asbestos trust funds simultaneously. Because asbestos exposure typically occurred at many different job sites involving products from several manufacturers, your work history may support claims against five, ten, or even more separate trusts. The Yarway Trust claim does not affect your eligibility to file with other trusts such as the Johns Manville Trust, the Armstrong World Industries Trust, the Owens Corning/Fibreboard Trust, or dozens of others. Each trust operates independently and pays its own claim.

In addition to trust claims, you may also have the right to pursue civil litigation against solvent asbestos defendants — companies that have not filed for bankruptcy and remain financially viable targets in court. An asbestos attorney can coordinate both trust claims and civil litigation simultaneously, often yielding substantially higher total compensation than trust claims alone. There is no prohibition against receiving trust payments while a lawsuit is pending, though some defendants may seek offsets at trial. Your attorney will advise on the best overall strategy for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions