ARTRA Group Inc. Asbestos Trust Claims
The formal trust is the ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust. It was created in 2007 following confirmation of ARTRA Group Incorporated’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan to resolve present and future asbestos personal-injury claims. Federal court records identify ARTRA’s former ownership of The Synkoloid Company as the source of substantial asbestos liabilities. The Trust remains active and is administered by Verus Claims Services, LLC.
ARTRA Group Asbestos Trust Facts
| Official trust name | ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust |
|---|---|
| Debtor | ARTRA Group, Incorporated |
| Chapter 11 filing | June 3, 2002 |
| Plan effective date | April 2, 2007 |
| Claims accepted beginning | November 1, 2007 |
| Initial Claim Filing Date | May 1, 2008 |
| Claims administrator | Verus Claims Services, LLC |
| Current Payment Percentage | 0.70% |
| Current percentage effective date | April 1, 2025 |
| Prior Payment Percentage | 0.60% |
| Mesothelioma Scheduled Value | $275,000 |
| Mesothelioma Average Value | $320,000 |
| Mesothelioma Maximum Value | $700,000 |
| Current status | Active |
Bankruptcy and Trust History
Federal court records state that ARTRA Group filed for Chapter 11 protection on June 3, 2002 after mounting asbestos personal-injury liabilities associated with its ownership of The Synkoloid Company exceeded its insurance coverage and assets.
The reorganization plan established the ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust as a qualified settlement fund. The Plan became effective April 2, 2007. Its purpose is to assume covered asbestos personal-injury liabilities and use Trust assets to pay allowed claims under the Trust Agreement and Trust Distribution Procedures.
The official Trust website states that claims could be filed beginning November 1, 2007 and that May 1, 2008 was established as the Initial Claim Filing Date.
Disease Levels and Claim Values
The official TDP publishes the following Scheduled, Average and Maximum Values. Disease Level I was eliminated effective September 13, 2011.
| Disease Level | Scheduled Value | Average Value | Maximum Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesothelioma — Level VI | $275,000 | $320,000 | $700,000 |
| Lung Cancer — Level V | $40,000 | $40,000 | $125,000 |
| Other Cancer — Level IV | $10,000 | $12,000 | $50,000 |
| Severe Asbestosis — Level III | $40,000 | $40,000 | $125,000 |
| Asbestosis/Pleural Disease — Level II | $6,000 | $6,000 | Not separately stated in the published table |
| Other Asbestos Disease — Level I | Eliminated effective September 13, 2011 | ||
These values are claim-liquidation benchmarks. They are not guaranteed cash payments. The applicable Payment Percentage and other Trust limitations determine the amount payable on an allowed claim.
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Current 0.70% Payment Percentage
The Trust’s official payment-percentage notice states that the Trustee, with the required consent of the Futures Representative and Trust Advisory Committee, increased the Payment Percentage from 0.60% to 0.70%, effective April 1, 2025. The notice states that 0.70% remains in effect until further adjusted under the TDP and Trust Agreement.
Mathematical illustration only — not a guaranteed payment. The $275,000 Mesothelioma Scheduled Value × 0.70% = $1,925. The $40,000 Lung Cancer Scheduled Value × 0.70% = $280. These examples do not establish claim eligibility or guarantee payment.
The Trust originally used a 7.5% Initial Payment Percentage for defined Asbestos Voting Claims. That historical rate should not be confused with the current 0.70% Payment Percentage for claims subject to the current rate.
Current Claim-Processing Rules
The Trust’s published amendments materially changed claim processing. Disease Level I was eliminated, and the Individual Review Process was eliminated for claims other than Foreign Claims.
The Trust also deferred processing of Disease Level II and Disease Level IV claims until the Payment Percentage is high enough to produce a payment of at least $100 for those claimants. The applicable statutes of limitations for those two deferred levels are tolled while that condition remains in effect.
At the current 0.70% rate, the $6,000 Level II Scheduled Value mathematically produces $42 and the $10,000 Level IV Scheduled Value produces $70. Both remain below the Trust’s stated $100 processing threshold.
Domestic claims that remain processable are principally handled through the Trust’s Expedited Review procedures, subject to the TDP, FIFO processing and payment limitations. Foreign Claims retain Individual Review treatment under the published procedures.
Medical and Exposure Requirements
The TDP generally requires evidence that at least 10 years elapsed between first asbestos exposure and diagnosis.
For all Disease Levels, Expedited Review requires qualifying ARTRA exposure before January 1, 1983. Disease Levels II through V generally require at least six months of ARTRA Exposure before January 1, 1983, together with Significant Occupational Exposure and the applicable disease-specific medical evidence.
The TDP defines ARTRA Exposure as meaningful and credible exposure before January 1, 1983 to an asbestos-containing product manufactured, installed, maintained or repaired by ARTRA or its predecessors. The Trust may require affidavits, co-worker evidence, family-member evidence in appropriate cases, medical records, imaging, pulmonary-function testing or other supporting documentation.
ARTRA and the Synkoloid Company Connection
Federal court records state that ARTRA’s bankruptcy was precipitated by asbestos liabilities resulting from its ownership of The Synkoloid Company, which manufactured, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products.
The official Trust Resources page publishes a list of asbestos-containing ARTRA products for exposure evaluation. A claimant must still establish meaningful and credible qualifying exposure; a product name or ARTRA/Synkoloid association by itself does not establish an allowed claim.
This ARTRA Group page and a page describing Synkoloid-related claims refer to the same formal ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust. They should not be treated as two independently funded asbestos trusts.
Current Filing and Administration Status
The ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust remains active. Its official website provides the TDP, claim-filing instructions, claim form, electronic-filer agreement, ARTRA asbestos-product list, ACH authorization and other claim materials.
The official contact page identifies Verus Claims Services, LLC as claims administrator and provides separate claim-process and electronic-filing support.
No sufficiently current audited 2025 or 2026 financial statement establishing total Trust assets, cumulative claims paid and lifetime dollars paid was located in the public official materials reviewed for this page. Those figures are therefore omitted rather than inferred from historical litigation or secondary websites.
Confirmed Primary Sources for Trust Facts
No law-firm or lead-generation website was used as factual authority for this page. Primary Trust, SEC and federal-court materials reviewed include:
- Official ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust website.
- Official ARTRA Trust Resources page.
- Official Second Amended Trust Distribution Procedures.
- Official notice increasing the Payment Percentage to 0.70% effective April 1, 2025.
- Official Verus claims-administrator contact information.
- SEC-filed ARTRA reorganization and Trust documents.
- Federal court decision describing ARTRA’s bankruptcy, Synkoloid liabilities and creation of the Trust.
Related Asbestos Trust Fund Resources
Asbestos Trust Fund Information
Filing and Eligibility
Payments and Trust Rules
Frequently Asked Questions About the ARTRA Group Asbestos Trust
What is the formal ARTRA Group asbestos trust name?
The formal name is the ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust.
Is the ARTRA Asbestos Trust active?
Yes. The official Trust website continues to provide claim forms, filing instructions, Trust procedures and Verus claims-administration information.
What is the current ARTRA Payment Percentage?
The Trust increased the Payment Percentage from 0.60% to 0.70%, effective April 1, 2025. The official notice states that 0.70% remains in effect until further adjusted.
What is the ARTRA mesothelioma value?
The published TDP lists a $275,000 Scheduled Value, $320,000 Average Value and $700,000 Maximum Value for Mesothelioma Level VI.
What does 0.70% of the mesothelioma Scheduled Value equal?
$275,000 multiplied by 0.70% equals $1,925. This is a mathematical illustration only — not a guaranteed payment.
Does ARTRA still offer Individual Review?
The published amendments eliminated Individual Review for claims other than Foreign Claims.
Why are some ARTRA disease levels deferred?
Disease Levels II and IV are deferred until the Payment Percentage would produce at least a $100 payment for those claimants. Their applicable limitations periods are tolled while the stated deferral condition remains in effect.
How is Synkoloid connected to ARTRA?
Federal court records state that ARTRA’s asbestos liabilities arose from its ownership of The Synkoloid Company, which manufactured, sold and distributed asbestos-containing products.
Get Help Reviewing an ARTRA Group Asbestos Claim
Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Prior exposure to an ARTRA or Synkoloid asbestos-containing product does not automatically establish Trust eligibility or compensation. Eligibility depends on diagnosis, medical evidence, qualifying exposure evidence, current Trust procedures, applicable filing requirements and individual circumstances. Compensation is not guaranteed.
⚕️ Legal & Medical Information Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information and is not medical or legal advice. The information does not establish asbestos exposure, diagnosis, causation, liability, claim eligibility or compensation. Medical concerns should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional, and legal questions should be reviewed with a qualified attorney.