Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. Asbestos Exposure: Flooring Work, Court Records & Claims
Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. appears as a named defendant in a New York asbestos lawsuit. An official New York court order in the Joseph and Ruth Galasso matter records dismissal of all claims and cross-claims against Bergen with prejudice on an unopposed summary-judgment motion. This record establishes litigation involving the company; it does not establish that Bergen manufactured asbestos-containing flooring or that the court found Bergen responsible for an exposure.
Historical asbestos-containing floor tiles and certain flooring backings and mastics present product-identification questions for installers, maintenance personnel and renovation workers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency documents flooring-disturbance risks, but the asbestos content of any Bergen-installed material, the company’s exact role, and any claimant’s exposure must be proved independently. This page distinguishes verified court facts from general flooring hazards and does not invent a Bergen bankruptcy trust or payout.
Bergen Tile & Linoleum: Verified Company Record
The most specific primary-source company record located for this article is a New York Supreme Court order naming Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. as a defendant in the Galasso asbestos litigation. The order is evidence of the case and its disposition, not a finding about the company’s business history, installation dates, or product composition.
Bergen Facts at a Glance
| Topic | Verified or qualified finding |
|---|---|
| Named entity | Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. |
| Primary company-specific source | New York Supreme Court, New York County, Galasso order, filed November 21, 2014 |
| Case outcome for Bergen | Unopposed summary-judgment order dismissing all claims and cross-claims against Bergen with prejudice |
| Asbestos product made by Bergen | Not established by the court order |
| Bergen installation contract or site | Not identified in the reviewed order |
| Dedicated Bergen asbestos trust | No dedicated trust confirmed in reviewed primary records |
Company-Research Questions
| Record | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Corporate registration | Confirm legal entity, operating dates and any successor |
| Construction contract | Determine whether Bergen supplied, installed or removed flooring |
| Purchase order | Identify tile, backing and adhesive manufacturer |
| Manufacturer catalog | Confirm asbestos composition for relevant product and year |
| Court filings and testimony | Establish allegations, defenses and case-specific evidence |
Flooring Products and Supplier Identification
A flooring contractor, distributor and manufacturer are different entities. The Galasso order does not establish which role Bergen performed on a particular project. EPA identifies asbestos-containing resilient flooring as a historical category, but the composition of a particular tile, sheet backing or adhesive must be confirmed.
Flooring Materials to Investigate
| Material | Key evidence |
|---|---|
| Vinyl-asbestos tile | Brand, package, product number, production year and laboratory evidence |
| Resilient sheet flooring backing | Backing construction, manufacturer and analytical results |
| Flooring adhesive or mastic | Separate manufacturer and formulation; do not infer from tile |
| Underlayment | Specifications and material analysis |
| Replacement floor covering | Installation date and supplier records |
Product Attribution
| Claim | Evidence needed |
|---|---|
| Bergen manufactured the flooring | Original manufacturing documents; not established |
| Bergen installed flooring | Contract, invoice, payroll or reliable testimony |
| Flooring contained asbestos | Manufacturer specifications or qualified testing |
| Bergen supplied adhesive | Invoices or purchase orders identifying adhesive |
| Replacement work caused exposure | Task, dates, material and disturbance evidence |
Flooring Workers and Worksites
Potential exposure depends on whether asbestos-containing flooring was actually present and disturbed. The worker groups below are investigation categories, not a roster of verified Bergen employees or customers.
Workers and Tasks
| Worker | Activity to investigate |
|---|---|
| Flooring installer | Cutting or fitting confirmed asbestos-containing tile |
| Flooring removal crew | Lifting, breaking or mechanically removing old flooring |
| Maintenance worker | Repairing or replacing damaged tile |
| Custodian | Abrasive floor maintenance on asbestos-containing flooring |
| General contractor | Supervising or working beside flooring removal |
| Building occupant | Presence during documented dust-producing work |
Worksite Records
| Setting | Records to request |
|---|---|
| School | Asbestos management plan and flooring renovation records |
| Office building | Tenant improvement contracts and specifications |
| Hospital | Maintenance and abatement records |
| Residence | Remodel invoices and product packaging |
| Industrial building | Facility purchase orders and contractor logs |
Related resources: Construction Materials Companies and Flooring Products Asbestos Exposure.
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How Flooring Work Could Release Fibers
EPA explains that removal methods vary in their capacity to break flooring and generate dust. A federal EPA floor-tile removal document distinguishes intact removal from methods that abrade or pulverize tile and mastic. This is general exposure science, not a finding that a particular Bergen project involved those methods.
Disturbance Pathways
| Activity | Exposure question |
|---|---|
| Cutting tiles | Was the specific tile asbestos-containing and how was it cut? |
| Breaking tiles | Was breakage extensive and what controls were used? |
| Sanding flooring | Did abrasive work contact confirmed asbestos material? |
| Scraping mastic | Was the adhesive asbestos-containing and was removal abrasive? |
| Demolition | Which flooring layers were disturbed and who was nearby? |
Factors That Matter
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Product composition | Tile and mastic require separate identification |
| Condition | Intact and damaged materials behave differently |
| Work method | Grinding differs from careful intact removal |
| Duration | Frequency and time are claimant-specific |
| Proximity | Direct worker and bystander exposure differ |
| Ventilation and controls | May affect airborne dust |
Safety: Do not sand, scrape, drill or sample suspected asbestos flooring yourself. EPA recommends accredited inspection and qualified laboratory analysis when suspect material may be disturbed.
Bergen Claims and Trust Status
The Galasso order dismissed Bergen from that particular action. It does not determine the result of every other case. No dedicated Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. §524(g) trust, scheduled disease value, trust assets or payment percentage was confirmed from the reviewed primary sources; none is assigned here.
Claims Status
| Issue | Verified status |
|---|---|
| Galasso action | Claims and cross-claims against Bergen dismissed with prejudice by unopposed summary judgment |
| Finding Bergen supplied asbestos | Not established by this order |
| Dedicated Bergen trust | Not confirmed |
| Trust payment percentage | Not stated or invented |
| Average Bergen settlement | No verified primary-source figure |
| Potential claim route | Requires individual legal review of responsible entities, evidence and deadlines |
Legal Investigation
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Was Bergen the installer, seller or manufacturer? | Different factual and legal theories |
| Which product was used? | Specific product identification |
| Who supplied asbestos-containing layers? | Potentially separate responsible entities |
| Was there a prior dismissal? | Case and party-specific legal effect |
| Which jurisdiction applies? | Deadlines and standards vary |
Documented Bergen Court Record
In In re New York County Asbestos Litigation, the matter concerning Joseph Galasso and Ruth Galasso, Index No. 190156/14, an order filed November 21, 2014 states that Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. requested summary judgment without opposition and that all claims and cross-claims against it were dismissed with prejudice and without costs. The order does not recite an asbestos-product finding against Bergen.
Documented Court Facts
| Field | Official record |
|---|---|
| Court | Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York |
| Proceeding | In re New York County Asbestos Litigation |
| Plaintiffs | Joseph Galasso and Ruth Galasso |
| Index | 190156/14 |
| Defendant addressed | Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. |
| Order filed | November 21, 2014 |
| Disposition | Dismissal with prejudice; no opposition |
What the Order Establishes
| Supported | Not supported |
|---|---|
| Bergen was named in an asbestos action | Bergen manufactured every tile it handled |
| Bergen obtained dismissal in this case | Bergen was found liable |
| The order concerned Galasso plaintiffs | A company-wide settlement figure |
| The court record is public primary evidence | A Bergen asbestos trust or payment schedule |
Evidence and Product Identification
A credible investigation begins with the actual floor and project records, then identifies who made each material and who performed each task. The mere presence of Bergen’s name in a litigation index cannot replace those records.
Evidence Checklist
| Evidence | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Medical and pathology records | Confirm diagnosed condition |
| Employment and union records | Establish job and dates |
| Contractor invoices | Connect Bergen to specific project |
| Tile cartons and labels | Identify original manufacturer |
| Adhesive packaging | Identify separate mastic supplier |
| Building asbestos survey | Identify tested flooring layers |
| Accredited laboratory results | Confirm sample composition |
| Witness testimony | Describe installation or removal work |
| Court pleadings and orders | Clarify case-specific allegations and outcomes |
Avoid These Assumptions
| Assumption | Accurate approach |
|---|---|
| All linoleum contains asbestos | Test or document each product and backing |
| All tile adhesives contain asbestos | Identify adhesive independently |
| Bergen manufactured tile | Confirm whether it was installer, supplier or manufacturer |
| A lawsuit proves liability | Review actual disposition and evidence |
| Every defendant has a trust | Verify official trust and bankruptcy records |
What Would Resolve the Remaining Bergen-Specific Evidence Gap
| Missing confirmation | Most useful original record | What it would establish |
|---|---|---|
| Bergen business role | Contemporaneous contracts, invoices or corporate filings | Whether Bergen manufactured, distributed, installed or removed flooring |
| Specific asbestos product | Manufacturer formulation records, product labels or qualified laboratory results | Whether the identified flooring or adhesive contained asbestos |
| Relevant jobsite and dates | Project specifications, employment records and witness testimony | Whether Bergen and the claimant were connected to the same project |
| Exposure activity | Maintenance logs, deposition testimony and work records | How an identified material was disturbed |
| Additional case findings | Underlying pleadings, depositions and subsequent court orders | Whether any other record establishes facts beyond the Galasso dismissal |
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co. named in asbestos litigation?
Yes. A New York Supreme Court order names Bergen in the Joseph and Ruth Galasso asbestos action.
What happened to Bergen in the Galasso case?
The November 2014 order dismissed all claims and cross-claims against Bergen with prejudice on an unopposed summary-judgment motion.
Did that court find Bergen manufactured asbestos floor tile?
No such finding appears in the reviewed order. Product manufacture must be established independently.
Did Bergen install asbestos-containing flooring?
The site’s company directory describes Bergen as a flooring installer, but the reviewed primary court order does not prove a specific asbestos-containing installation. Contracts and product records are needed.
Can old floor tile contain asbestos?
Yes. EPA documents historical asbestos-containing resilient floor tile, but appearance alone cannot confirm a particular floor.
Does the adhesive need separate identification?
Yes. Tile, backing and adhesive can have different manufacturers and formulations.
Does Bergen have an asbestos trust?
No dedicated Bergen §524(g) asbestos trust was confirmed in the reviewed primary sources. Do not assume a trust payout exists.
What records matter for a potential claim?
Medical records, employment history, flooring product identification, contracts, installation or removal details, and relevant court or corporate records.
🧾 Bergen Tile & Linoleum Asbestos Summary
Company Summary
| Topic | Finding |
|---|---|
| Primary Bergen record | 2014 New York Galasso dismissal order |
| Documented case outcome | Dismissal with prejudice |
| Bergen asbestos product | Not verified by reviewed order |
| Exposure mechanism | Depends on confirmed asbestos flooring and disturbance |
| Dedicated trust | Not confirmed |
| Compensation guarantee | None |
📚 Confirmed Primary Sources
- New York Supreme Court: Galasso order, November 21, 2014 (Bergen Tile & Linoleum Co.)
- EPA: Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos
- EPA: Remodeling and Asbestos
- EPA: Pre-demolition Floor Tile Removal
- EPA: Asbestos Guidance Documents
Submit Your Case
Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Submit Your Case
Being named in litigation or working with older flooring does not automatically establish asbestos exposure, causation, legal liability or compensation. A qualified professional must evaluate individual evidence and applicable deadlines. Compensation is not guaranteed.
⚕️ Legal & Medical Information Disclaimer
This educational page is not legal or medical advice. Consult qualified healthcare and legal professionals about individual circumstances.