Western MacArthur Company Asbestos Trust

Western MacArthur Asbestos Trust Facts

Important: the 2024 asset and net-equity figures are dated December 31, 2024 and are not presented as current 2026 balances. The Trust lists a 2025 Twenty-Second Annual Report, but current 2025 financial figures are omitted here unless directly confirmed from the official filed report.

Bankruptcy and Trust History

The Trust states that it was established by order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California under special provisions of the Bankruptcy Code to resolve asbestos claims arising from MacArthur Company, Western Asbestos Company and Western MacArthur Company.

Federal court records confirm that Western MacArthur and Western Asbestos filed Chapter 11 cases in 2002 and proposed a joint reorganization plan addressing pending and future asbestos liabilities. The Bankruptcy Court confirmed the plan in January 2004. The plan created the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust, its Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust Distribution Procedures (TDP), and its Case Valuation Matrix.

Historical insurance settlements provided substantial funding for the Trust. Those historical funding amounts should not be confused with the Trust’s current assets.

Current Western Asbestos Settlement Trust Payment Percentage

The Trust’s official April 12, 2024 notice states that the Payment Percentage was reviewed on April 11, 2024 and remained at 51.1%. The Trust’s FAQ states that the TDP requires reconsideration no less frequently than once every three years, or sooner when the Trustees deem reconsideration appropriate or when requested by the Futures Representative or Trust Advisory Committee.

The Payment Percentage is applied to the liquidated value determined under the TDP and Matrix. It should not be confused with an Average Value, base case value, minimum value or maximum value.

The Trust’s 2024 official claim report also confirms that Trust Claims were paid at the approved 51.1% Payment Percentage as of December 31, 2024.

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Disease Valuation and the Case Valuation Matrix

The Western Trust uses a Case Valuation Matrix rather than one nationwide Scheduled Value table. The Matrix is designed to approximate historical settlement values in jurisdictions where Western had significant operations and settlement history, including California, Minnesota and North Dakota.

Compensable categories identified in the official Matrix include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Other cancer as defined by the Matrix
• Grade I non-malignant asbestos disease
• Grade II non-malignant asbestos disease

Claim valuation can vary by jurisdiction and individual factors. The Trust’s 2024 claim report states that compensation is adjusted based on characteristics including age, marital status, dependents, medical loss, economic loss, exposure location and whether the injured person was living when litigation began or the Trust claim was filed.

The Trust announced new 2026 indexed base case values for economic and medical loss: $341,000 Economic Loss Base Case, $376,000 Medical Loss Base Case, and $141,280 Assumed Future Medical Loss and Funeral Expenses. These are valuation inputs—not guaranteed claim payments.

On May 28, 2026, the Trust also announced approved Matrix modifications for claims submitted on or after June 1, 2026, including revised Grade I Serious Asbestosis provisions.

Medical and Exposure Requirements

The Matrix establishes minimum criteria for each compensable disease category. A claimant must satisfy the applicable medical requirements and establish qualifying exposure attributable to the covered Western companies.

The Trust maintains official site, ship and traditional occupation resources in its Claims Packet. Those resources can assist with exposure evaluation, but the Trust warns that site and ship lists may be modified as additional evidence or claims-processing experience develops.

Claimants should document work locations, dates, occupations, asbestos-containing materials and other evidence relevant to Western exposure. The exact controlling requirements are found in the current TDP and Matrix.

For general qualification concepts, see Asbestos Trust Fund Eligibility Requirements.

How Western Asbestos Settlement Trust Claims Are Filed and Reviewed

The Trust’s official Claims Packet provides claim materials, interrogatories, litigation declarations, occupational resources, disclosure policies, and site and ship lists.

The Trust distinguishes Matrix Claims from Individual Review Claims. Its FAQ states that a Matrix Claim meets the requirements of the Case Valuation Matrix. An Individual Review Claim can be evaluated when it does not meet Matrix medical or exposure criteria but would otherwise be cognizable and valid in the tort system under the governing provisions.

The current Trust documents include the Trust Agreement, Bylaws, TDP, Case Valuation Matrix and ADR procedures. Claimants should use the current versions because amendments can change requirements.

For broader filing preparation, see Asbestos Trust Fund Filing Guides.

Official Claim and Financial Statistics

The Trust’s official Twenty-First Annual Report provides the following figures as of December 31, 2024:

• Total assets: $413,581,284.
• Total liabilities: $42,006,078.
• Net claimants’ equity: $371,575,206.
• Claims received during 2024: 512.
• Offers issued during 2024: 433.
• Claims paid during 2024: 355.
• Mesothelioma claims paid during 2024: 135.
• Lung cancer claims paid during 2024: 59.

The Trust’s official annual-report page lists a 2025 Twenty-Second Annual Report and Accounting, and the Trust announced its 2026 hearing in April 2026. Because this page uses only figures directly confirmed from acceptable primary records, the 2024 audited/accounting figures above are clearly dated rather than being represented as current balances.

How the 51.1% Payment Percentage Affects a Claim

Mathematical illustration only — not a guaranteed payment.

If the Western Trust determines a hypothetical claim has a $100,000 liquidated value, applying the currently confirmed 51.1% Payment Percentage produces:

$100,000 × 51.1% = $51,100

This example is arithmetic only. It does not state that any disease has a $100,000 value and does not predict an actual payment. Western’s Matrix uses jurisdiction-specific and claimant-specific valuation factors, and other provisions—including applicable inflation adjustments—can affect payments.

For more about how trust valuation differs from the amount actually paid, see Asbestos Trust Fund Compensation and Payment Guides.

Confirmed Primary Sources for Trust Facts

No law-firm or lead-generation website was used as factual authority for this page. Primary and official sources reviewed include:

• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust official website and current 2026 notices.
• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — About the Trust.
• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — official governing Trust documents.
• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — official 2024 Payment Percentage notice.
• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — Twenty-First Annual Report and Accounting for 2024.
• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — official Case Valuation Matrix.
• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — official Claims Packet and exposure resources.
• Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — official FAQ.

Get Help With a Western MacArthur Asbestos Trust Claim

Call 800.291.0963

Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Submit Your Case

Exposure to a Western company or asbestos-related diagnosis does not automatically establish trust eligibility. Eligibility and compensation depend on qualifying medical and exposure evidence, the current TDP and Matrix, claim valuation and individual circumstances. Compensation is not guaranteed.