Garlock Sealing Technologies | Asbestos, Lawsuits, Trust Fund

Nov 06, 2024

Garlock Sealing Technologies, a subsidiary of EnPro Industries, once used asbestos in manufacturing gaskets. Exposure and asbestos-related illnesses eventually led to lawsuits against the company and bankruptcy. The company survived and established a trust fund to compensate victims.

A modern, multinational company, Garlock has nearly 2,000 employees. The company manufactures pipeline solutions and fluid sealing materials.

Garlock also produces products for the oil, mining, chemical processing, construction, and pharmaceutical industries, all of which need high-performance seals.[1]

In 1887, Olin J. Garlock invented an improved sealing system for steam engine pistons. Garlock established his business in Palmyra, New York. The company originally worked with locomotive steam engines, but the technology was eventually applied to other industries.

EnPro Industries acquired Garlock in 2003. The liability caused by asbestos use would eventually lead the company to bankruptcy and reorganization.[2] Unlike some asbestos-related companies, Garlock reorganized and continues to operate as a successful industry leader.

Asbestos was used in many different industries for decades. Finally, in the 1970s, the federal government restricted its use because its fibers were linked to illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Asbestos has many natural properties that make it useful for sealing materials, gaskets, valves, and similar products. It is pliable, strong, and lightweight. Asbestos also resists heat, fire, electricity, and many chemical reactions.

Federal asbestos regulations did not completely ban the mineral. Many companies, including Garlock, continued to use it to some extent. Some products Garlock made with asbestos include:[2]

Many people risked exposure to asbestos fibers due to Garlock gaskets, packing, tapes, and other sealing products.

Garlock employees who worked in factories that manufactured these products were all put at risk of asbestos exposure. These employees risked inhaling or ingesting the tiny, microscopic fibers that easily break off of the mineral.

Potential exposure goes well beyond those who worked directly for Garlock. Workers who used their products in other industries were also likely to be exposed:[3]

By handling the products, they may have disturbed the asbestos and been exposed to the fibers. Once someone inhales or ingests these fibers, they can become lodged in the body’s tissues, causing serious damage over time.

Because of the asbestos used in its products, Garlock has faced thousands of lawsuits from people who got sick. The company also faced lawsuits from loved ones of people who died due to illnesses caused by asbestos exposure.

These are only three examples of thousands of lawsuits against Garlock. When added together, these lawsuits forced the company to file for bankruptcy protection in 2010.

Although Garlock faced many lawsuits, its legal team aggressively defended its liability, winning many of the cases. The expense of these lawsuits, however, led to the company’s eventual bankruptcy.[6]

Bankruptcy required Garlock to create an asbestos trust fund to pay settlements to victims with valid claims. In 2014, Garlock won a significant victory in the matter of asbestos payouts.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers had been seeking a total of $1.4 billion for the trust fund. A judge reduced the required amount to just $125 million to fund the trust.

This judge cited the inflation of claims by lawyers and ruled some lawyers manipulated evidence that proved their clients were exposed to asbestos through multiple sources, not just Garlock’s products.[7]

If you or a loved one has mesothelioma and worked with Garlock products in the past, talk to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. They can review your case for free and determine if you are eligible to file a claim for compensation with the Garlock Trust.

Mary Ellen Ellis has been the head writer for Mesothelioma.net since 2016. With hundreds of mesothelioma and asbestos articles to her credit, she is one of the most experienced writers on these topics. Her degrees and background in science and education help her explain complicated medical topics for a wider audience. Mary Ellen takes pride in providing her readers with the critical information they need following a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness.

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Dave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.

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