M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Exposure: Refractory Products & Trust Claims
M.H. Detrick Company manufactured and distributed asbestos-containing refractory, insulation, cement, coating, rope and board products used around furnaces, boilers and other high-temperature industrial equipment. The company’s own 2002 asbestos personal-injury claims procedures state that Detrick manufactured, used, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products from 1939 through 1964 and identify 29 specific product categories by name.
M.H. Detrick filed Chapter 11 on January 13, 1998. Its reorganization established the M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust on August 21, 2002 and a permanent §524(g) channeling injunction directed asbestos-related claims against Detrick to the Trust. The Trust administrator’s official website states that its most recent M.H. Detrick claim-filing period ran from December 12, 2010 through February 10, 2011. Because the official materials reviewed do not establish a currently open filing period or a current disease-by-disease payment schedule, this page does not invent current payout figures.
🏢 M.H. Detrick Company History
M.H. Detrick developed refractory construction systems for high-temperature enclosures. Government trademark records identify Detrick goods including refractory blocks or tile for walls, arches and roofs in furnaces, boilers, stokers and cracking stills, together with insulation, furnace doors, structural supports and dampers. The Canadian trademark record reports first use of the DETRICK mark in Canada in 1913 and currently lists M.H. Detrick Company in Mokena, Illinois as the registered owner.
Company Facts at a Glance
| Topic | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Business focus | Refractory construction, insulation and components for high-temperature enclosures. |
| Documented applications | Furnaces, boilers, stokers, cracking stills and similar heat enclosures. |
| DETRICK trademark | Government record reports first Canadian use in 1913 and registration filed in 1943. |
| Historical asbestos period | Official Trust procedures state Detrick manufactured, used, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products from 1939 through 1964. |
| Chapter 11 | January 13, 1998. |
| Trust established | August 21, 2002. |
| Trust administrator | Official Asbestos Resolution site identifies Verus Claims Services contacts for claim-process questions. |
High-Temperature Applications
| Application | Historical Relevance |
|---|---|
| Industrial furnaces | Refractory walls, roofs, arches, insulation, doors and related components. |
| Boilers | High-temperature refractory and insulation systems. |
| Stokers | Heat-resistant refractory construction. |
| Cracking stills | High-temperature petroleum-processing equipment identified in the Detrick trademark description. |
| Ovens / heat enclosures | Refractory linings and thermal-control materials. |
🔥 Documented M.H. Detrick Asbestos Products
The strongest product evidence comes directly from the M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust’s court-filed 2002 claims procedures. Those procedures expressly list 29 asbestos-containing product categories associated with Detrick’s 1939–1964 asbestos period.
Official Trust Product List — Part 1
| # | Product |
|---|---|
| 1 | Block insulation |
| 2 | Detrick “MW” block insulation |
| 3 | Griptex Mineral Wool Block |
| 4 | MW Insulating Cement |
| 5 | Super 711 |
| 6 | Hilite Insulating and Finishing Cement |
| 7 | Insulating cement |
| 8 | Detrick T-60 Insulating Cement |
| 9 | Detrick T-60 Finishing Cement |
| 10 | Utility Thermal Finish Cement |
| 11 | Utility Insulating Finishing Cement |
| 12 | MHD Finishing Cement |
| 13 | Pyroscat Fire Proofing Cement |
| 14 | 7M Asbestos Cement |
| 15 | Permiseal |
Official Trust Product List — Part 2
| # | Product |
|---|---|
| 16 | Therman Coat |
| 17 | Asbestos Rope |
| 18 | Detroc asbestos board |
| 19 | Calcrete 30 |
| 20 | Refractory cement T20 and T22 |
| 21 | Detrick Casing Cement |
| 22 | Casing Cement T10 |
| 23 | Duriseal Protective Coatings Types T-178, S-678, T-278 and S-778 |
| 24 | Detrick Boiler Wall Coatings T-178, S-678, T-278 and S-778 |
| 25 | Monoseal |
| 26 | Bonding Cement |
| 27 | Detrick Plastic Insulation |
| 28 | Hitherm |
| 29 | Asbestolux |
Product Accuracy Table
| Claim | Accurate Treatment |
|---|---|
| Detrick made and distributed asbestos-containing products | Confirmed by Illinois appellate litigation and official Trust procedures. |
| Official asbestos-product period | 1939–1964 according to the Trust’s claims procedures. |
| Every Detrick product contained asbestos | Not claimed. The Trust procedures identify specific asbestos-containing products. |
| Modern Detrick products contain asbestos | Not claimed. |
| Every refractory material at a Detrick installation was made by Detrick | Not assumed; product manufacturer and source should be established. |
👷 Workers & Industrial Settings
Detrick refractory and insulation products were intended for high-temperature industrial equipment. Workers who installed, repaired, removed or worked near historical asbestos-containing cements, insulation, coatings, rope, board or refractory systems could have encountered asbestos dust when those materials were cut, mixed, scraped, broken or demolished.
Potentially Exposed Worker Groups
| Worker Group | Potential Historical Activity |
|---|---|
| Refractory workers | Installing and removing furnace and boiler linings. |
| Boilermakers | Repairing boilers and disturbing wall coatings, insulation and cement. |
| Bricklayers | Constructing and repairing refractory walls, arches and roofs. |
| Pipefitters / steamfitters | Working around insulated high-temperature equipment and piping. |
| Furnace mechanics | Repairing heat enclosures and refractory systems. |
| Refinery workers | Working around cracking stills, furnaces and process equipment. |
| Industrial maintenance workers | Removing deteriorated insulation, cement, coatings and refractory materials. |
| Demolition workers | Breaking out old refractory and insulation systems. |
| Nearby trades | Potential bystander exposure during dusty refractory work. |
Industrial Settings
| Setting | Historical Exposure Relevance |
|---|---|
| Boiler rooms | Detrick products included boiler-wall coatings, insulation and refractory cements. |
| Industrial furnaces | Core application for Detrick refractory systems. |
| Refineries | Government trademark records specifically identify cracking stills. |
| Steel / metal operations | High-temperature furnaces and heat enclosures require refractory linings. |
| Manufacturing plants | Industrial ovens, boilers and furnaces could use refractory construction. |
| Power / utility facilities | Boilers and other heat-generating equipment could involve refractory maintenance. |
See High-Risk Jobs Asbestos Exposure and Job Site Asbestos Exposure.
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🔧 How Historical M.H. Detrick Asbestos Exposure Occurred
Asbestos exposure was most likely when historical Detrick materials were manipulated or deteriorated. Insulating and refractory cements could generate dust during mixing, application, chipping and removal; block and board products could release fibers when cut or broken; rope and insulation could become friable with age; and coatings or boiler-wall materials could be disturbed during overhaul or demolition.
Potential Exposure Activities
| Task | Potential Historical Exposure Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Mixing dry cement | Could release airborne dust from asbestos-containing cement formulations. |
| Applying refractory material | Handling dry or fibrous products could create exposure. |
| Cutting block / board | Sawing, trimming or breaking asbestos-containing insulation could release fibers. |
| Removing boiler-wall coatings | Grinding, scraping or demolition could disturb old asbestos-containing coatings. |
| Removing asbestos rope | Aged rope could release fibers during pulling, cutting or disposal. |
| Furnace relining | Breaking out old refractory systems could generate substantial dust. |
| Cleanup | Sweeping dusty refractory debris could re-suspend fibers. |
Asbestos-Related Health Conditions
| Condition | General Relationship to Asbestos |
|---|---|
| Mesothelioma | A rare cancer strongly associated with asbestos exposure. |
| Lung cancer | Occupational asbestos exposure can increase lung-cancer risk. |
| Asbestosis | Progressive pulmonary fibrosis caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. |
| Pleural disease | Asbestos exposure can cause pleural plaques, thickening and other abnormalities. |
⚖️ M.H. Detrick Bankruptcy & Asbestos Trust
M.H. Detrick filed its Chapter 11 petition on January 13, 1998 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No. 98 B 01004. The court-approved reorganization established the M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust on August 21, 2002. The official Trust history states that the Bankruptcy and District Courts determined that the Trust and Plan satisfied the prerequisites for a §524(g) supplemental injunction, and a permanent channeling injunction directed asbestos-related Detrick claims to the Trust.
Bankruptcy & Trust Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 13, 1998 | M.H. Detrick filed Chapter 11. |
| April 24, 2002 | Asbestos-Related Personal Injury Claims Resolution Procedures dated. |
| August 21, 2002 | Third Amended Joint Plan, confirmation order, Trust Agreement and permanent channeling injunction documents dated; Trust established. |
| December 12, 2010 | Most recent officially listed M.H. Detrick claim-filing period opened. |
| February 10, 2011 | Most recent officially listed filing period closed. |
| September 30, 2011 | Official administrator page reports payments were made to many accepted M.H. Detrick claimants. |
| Current official page reviewed | No later open filing period is identified on the official Asbestos Resolution homepage reviewed. |
Trust Facts
| Trust Item | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Name | M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust |
| Established | August 21, 2002 |
| Bankruptcy case | 98 B 01004, Northern District of Illinois |
| Legal structure | §524(g) Trust with permanent channeling injunction |
| Purpose | Assume and resolve asbestos-related claims against M.H. Detrick under the Plan and claims procedures. |
| Payment method in 2002 procedures | Fixed Payment Amount determined by Trustee with Trust Advisory Committee consent, subject to available Trust assets. |
| Most recent officially listed filing window | December 12, 2010–February 10, 2011 |
| Current open filing period | Not confirmed from the official administrator page reviewed. |
| Current disease payment schedule | Not confirmed from current governing public materials reviewed. |
| Current Trust assets / cumulative paid claims | Not stated here without current official financial confirmation. |
📊 Documented M.H. Detrick Litigation & Trust Facts
In M.H. Detrick Co. v. Century Indemnity Co., the Illinois Appellate Court expressly described Detrick as a manufacturer and distributor of asbestos-containing products and stated that it was sued by a number of parties in the 1980s alleging injuries from exposure to those products. The case concerned insurance coverage rather than determining each underlying claimant’s product-liability case.
Selected Primary Records
| Record | Documented Significance |
|---|---|
| M.H. Detrick Co. v. Century Indemnity Co. (Ill. App. Ct. 1998) | Identifies Detrick as manufacturer/distributor of asbestos-containing products and documents asbestos suits beginning in the 1980s. |
| 2002 API Claims Resolution Procedures | Confirms 1939–1964 asbestos-product period and lists 29 asbestos-containing product categories. |
| 2002 Trust Agreement | Creates the M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust under the confirmed Plan. |
| Official Trust history | Confirms January 13, 1998 Chapter 11 filing, August 21, 2002 Trust establishment and §524(g) channeling injunction. |
| Official Asbestos Resolution homepage | Lists most recent M.H. Detrick filing period as December 12, 2010 through February 10, 2011 and describes 2011 claim payments. |
Claims & Figures We Do Not Invent
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Total workers exposed | No reliable nationwide total confirmed. |
| Total historical lawsuits | No authoritative cumulative total asserted here. |
| Current Trust payment percentage | No current percentage confirmed in official materials reviewed. |
| Current disease values | No current schedule confirmed in official materials reviewed. |
| Current Trust assets | No current audited figure asserted without official confirmation. |
| Current cumulative claims paid | No current official cumulative total asserted. |
| Guaranteed compensation | None. |
📋 M.H. Detrick Claim Evidence & Filing Status
The 2002 Trust procedures state that the Trust was designed to process valid asbestos-related personal-injury claims arising from Detrick products and business activities. Historical eligibility depended on proof sufficient under the claims procedures, and payment was subject to available Trust funds. Because the official administrator page reviewed does not identify a current open filing period, anyone evaluating a Detrick exposure should verify the Trust’s present claim status directly with the administrator before relying on historical procedures.
Evidence That May Help Document Exposure
- Medical records establishing an asbestos-related disease.
- Employment, union, Social Security or military records.
- Evidence placing Detrick products at the worksite.
- Product labels, bags, containers, invoices or purchase records.
- Historical Detrick catalogs, specifications, patents and drawings.
- Boiler, furnace or refractory maintenance records.
- Photographs of historical equipment or refractory installations.
- Coworker testimony identifying Detrick products and dusty work.
- Evidence identifying the dates and duration of exposure.
- Current correspondence from the M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust administrator.
Claim Investigation Checklist
| Step | Question |
|---|---|
| 1 | Can a specific Detrick asbestos-containing product be identified? |
| 2 | Did exposure occur during or involve products from the documented 1939–1964 asbestos period? |
| 3 | Where was the product installed or used? |
| 4 | What work disturbed the material? |
| 5 | How frequently and closely did the claimant encounter the product? |
| 6 | Does medical evidence establish a qualifying asbestos-related condition? |
| 7 | Is the Trust currently accepting the type of claim at issue? |
Compensation is not guaranteed. Trust eligibility, filing availability and claim value depend on the currently governing procedures, exposure evidence, disease, deadlines and available Trust assets.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Did M.H. Detrick manufacture asbestos-containing products?
Yes. Detrick’s court-filed Trust procedures state that the company manufactured, used, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products from 1939 through 1964.
What asbestos products did M.H. Detrick make or distribute?
The official procedures list 29 categories, including block insulation, MW Insulating Cement, Super 711, T-60 cements, 7M Asbestos Cement, Asbestos Rope, Detroc asbestos board, refractory cements, boiler-wall coatings, plastic insulation, Hitherm and Asbestolux.
Where were Detrick products used?
Detrick refractory systems were associated with high-temperature equipment such as furnaces, boilers, stokers, cracking stills and similar industrial heat enclosures.
When did M.H. Detrick file bankruptcy?
The official Trust history states that M.H. Detrick filed Chapter 11 on January 13, 1998.
Does an M.H. Detrick asbestos trust exist?
Yes. The M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust was established on August 21, 2002 under the confirmed reorganization plan and §524(g) channeling injunction.
Is the M.H. Detrick Trust currently accepting new claims?
The official administrator website reviewed lists its most recent M.H. Detrick filing period as December 12, 2010 through February 10, 2011 and does not identify a later currently open period. Current filing availability should therefore be confirmed directly with the Trust administrator.
What is the current M.H. Detrick Trust payment percentage?
No current payment percentage or current disease-by-disease schedule was confirmed in the official materials reviewed. The original procedures used a Fixed Payment Amount structure subject to available funds rather than the modern percentage-and-scheduled-value format used by some other trusts.
What evidence may support a Detrick asbestos exposure claim?
Medical records, employment history, worksite records, Detrick product identification, invoices, historical specifications, maintenance records and credible coworker testimony may help document exposure.
🧾 M.H. Detrick Company Summary
| Detail | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Business | Refractory and insulation systems for high-temperature enclosures |
| Documented asbestos period | 1939–1964 |
| Officially listed asbestos products | 29 product categories in 2002 Trust procedures |
| Primary applications | Furnaces, boilers, stokers, cracking stills and similar heat enclosures |
| Chapter 11 filing | January 13, 1998 |
| Trust | M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust |
| Trust established | August 21, 2002 |
| Legal mechanism | §524(g) permanent channeling injunction |
| Most recent officially listed filing period | December 12, 2010–February 10, 2011 |
| Current payment percentage | Not confirmed from current official materials reviewed |
| Current disease schedule | Not confirmed from current official materials reviewed |
| Current Trust assets | Not asserted without current official financial confirmation |
📚 Confirmed Primary & Court Sources
- M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust — official Background & History confirming the January 13, 1998 Chapter 11 filing, August 21, 2002 Trust establishment and §524(g) permanent channeling injunction.
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois — M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos-Related Personal Injury Claims Resolution Procedures dated April 24, 2002, documenting the 1939–1964 asbestos period and 29 asbestos-containing product categories.
- M.H. Detrick Company Asbestos Trust Agreement dated August 21, 2002 — governing document creating the Trust.
- Asbestos Resolution — official administrator homepage identifying the most recent M.H. Detrick claim-filing period and 2011 claim-payment information.
- Illinois Appellate Court — M.H. Detrick Co. v. Century Indemnity Co. (1998), identifying Detrick as a manufacturer and distributor of asbestos-containing products and documenting underlying asbestos litigation.
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office — DETRICK trademark record documenting refractory blocks, tile, insulation and high-temperature applications in furnaces, boilers, stokers and cracking stills.
Submit Your Case
Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Submit Your Case
Working around M.H. Detrick refractory or insulation products does not automatically establish asbestos exposure, Trust eligibility, disease causation or compensation. The specific product, exposure dates, work activity, medical evidence, currently governing Trust procedures and filing status must be evaluated individually. Compensation is not guaranteed.
⚕️ Legal & Medical Information Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information and is not legal or medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about diagnosis and treatment and a qualified attorney about individual legal rights, Trust eligibility and filing deadlines.