Synkoloid Company Asbestos Trust Claims
Claims involving historic asbestos-containing products associated with The Synkoloid Company are addressed through the ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust. Synkoloid itself is not the formal name of a separate bankruptcy trust. ARTRA Group, Incorporated acquired Synkoloid, later faced substantial asbestos liabilities connected to the company, and reorganized under Chapter 11. Federal court and SEC records confirm that ARTRA’s reorganization created a Section 524(g) trust to resolve ARTRA asbestos personal-injury liabilities, including liabilities associated with Synkoloid.
Synkoloid and ARTRA Trust Facts
| Formal trust | ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust |
|---|---|
| Company associated with this page | The Synkoloid Company |
| Bankruptcy debtor | ARTRA Group, Incorporated |
| ARTRA Chapter 11 filing | June 3, 2002 |
| Plan filed | January 24, 2007 |
| Bankruptcy confirmation order | January 25, 2007 |
| District Court affirmation | February 28, 2007, according to an SEC filing |
| Plan Effective Date | April 2, 2007 |
| Mesothelioma — Level VI | $275,000 Scheduled / $320,000 Average / $700,000 Maximum |
| Current Payment Percentage | Not stated here without a current official ARTRA notice independently confirming the rate |
| Status | ARTRA trust documents remain publicly available; current payment-rate claims are limited here to what can be primary-confirmed |
ARTRA Bankruptcy and Trust History
Federal court records state that ARTRA Group filed for bankruptcy protection on June 3, 2002 while facing asbestos liabilities arising from its ownership of Synkoloid. ARTRA and its creditors filed a Joint Reorganization Plan on January 24, 2007.
An SEC filing states that the Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Plan on January 25, 2007 and that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois affirmed confirmation on February 28, 2007. The Plan became effective April 2, 2007.
The Plan created an asbestos trust to which present and future ARTRA asbestos claims would be channeled for resolution and payment. The SEC filing states that trust funding was expected to come primarily from ARTRA insurance proceeds, a settlement involving the party to which ARTRA sold Synkoloid, and other settlement consideration. Those historical funding arrangements are not presented as current Trust assets.
How Synkoloid Is Connected to the ARTRA Trust
The ARTRA TDP expressly covers asbestos personal-injury and death claims caused by exposure to asbestos-containing products sold by ARTRA or its predecessors for which ARTRA and related entities have legal responsibility.
The TDP specifically discusses Synkoloid in its exposure provisions. It states that from 1949 through 1976 Synkoloid produced joint compound and other similar products containing asbestos. The TDP further explains that the Trust may consider the specialized nature and use of ARTRA asbestos-containing products when evaluating exposure evidence.
Accordingly, the accurate reader-facing description is that qualifying Synkoloid-related claims are handled through the ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust—not through a separately named “Synkoloid Company Asbestos Trust.”
Disease Levels and Claim Values
| 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 come directly from the ARTRA Second Amended TDP. They are liquidation values, not guaranteed cash payments. The amount ultimately paid is subject to the applicable Payment Percentage and other Trust limitations.
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Payment Percentage Accuracy
The Second Amended TDP records an historical Initial Payment Percentage of 7.5% and expressly authorizes later adjustment by the Trust with the required consent. That 7.5% figure therefore should not be represented as the current payment rate.
Recent secondary sources report later ARTRA payment percentages, but this page follows a stricter primary-source standard. A current official ARTRA payment-percentage notice establishing the latest rate was not independently located in the official materials reviewed for this update. For that reason, no secondary-source percentage is presented here as a confirmed current rate.
No mathematical current-payment example is provided because doing so would require multiplying the published disease values by a current Payment Percentage that has not been primary-confirmed for this page.
Claim Filing and Review Procedures
The Second Amended TDP provides for claims to be ordered and processed through a FIFO Processing Queue. Domestic claims are generally liquidated through the Expedited Review Process. The TDP states that, as of September 13, 2011, the Individual Review Process was eliminated for claims other than Foreign Claims.
Unresolved disputes concerning medical condition, exposure history or liquidated value can proceed through binding or non-binding arbitration under the TDP. The procedures also address Exigent Health Claims, Exigent Hardship Claims, Secondary Exposure Claims, Indirect Asbestos Claims, audits and second-disease claims.
Medical and Exposure Requirements
The TDP requires all Disease Level diagnoses to establish a 10-year latency period between first asbestos exposure and diagnosis, either through a physician statement or a sufficient exposure history.
Mesothelioma Level VI requires a qualifying mesothelioma diagnosis and exposure evidence. Lung Cancer Level V requires primary lung cancer, evidence of an underlying bilateral asbestos-related nonmalignant disease, six months of ARTRA Exposure, Significant Occupational Exposure and medical documentation supporting asbestos exposure as a contributing factor.
The TDP specifically states that Synkoloid produced asbestos-containing joint compound and similar products from 1949 through 1976. Exposure can be established through evidence permitted by the TDP, including competent sworn coworker evidence where applicable.
Financial and Claims Accuracy
SEC filings confirm that the ARTRA reorganization contemplated funding the Asbestos Trust through insurance recoveries, settlement proceeds associated with Synkoloid and other consideration. One SEC filing describes a $2.5 million promissory note issued to the Asbestos Trust as part of an amended settlement.
Those figures describe specific historical funding arrangements and are not represented as current assets. A current audited ARTRA financial report establishing present assets, cumulative claims paid and lifetime dollars paid was not located among the primary sources reviewed for this page, so those statistics are omitted rather than inferred from secondary websites.
Confirmed Primary Sources for Trust Facts
No law-firm or lead-generation website was used as factual authority for this page. Primary and government/court materials used include:
- ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust official website.
- ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust Second Amended Trust Distribution Procedures.
- SEC-filed Form 8-K describing ARTRA confirmation, the Effective Date and asbestos-trust funding arrangements.
- SEC-filed annual report describing the ARTRA Plan and creation of the Asbestos Trust.
Federal court records additionally confirm that the ARTRA bankruptcy trust was created to pay asbestos personal-injury claims against ARTRA and therefore asbestos liabilities associated with Synkoloid.
Related Asbestos Trust Fund Resources
Asbestos Trust Fund Information
ARTRA Claim Rules
Bankruptcy and Trust Formation
Frequently Asked Questions About Synkoloid and the ARTRA Asbestos Trust
Is there a separate Synkoloid Company Asbestos Trust?
The formal bankruptcy trust is the ARTRA 524(g) Asbestos Trust. Synkoloid-related asbestos liabilities are addressed through ARTRA’s trust structure.
Why is Synkoloid connected to ARTRA?
ARTRA acquired Synkoloid and later faced asbestos liabilities associated with Synkoloid products. Federal court records describe those liabilities as part of the reason for ARTRA’s bankruptcy.
What is the ARTRA mesothelioma Scheduled Value?
The Second Amended TDP lists $275,000 Scheduled, $320,000 Average and $700,000 Maximum for Mesothelioma Level VI.
What is the current ARTRA Payment Percentage?
The published TDP records a historical initial 7.5% rate but allows later adjustment. Because a current official notice independently confirming the latest rate was not located for this update, this page does not publish a secondary-source rate as confirmed current fact.
Does ARTRA use Expedited Review?
Yes. The Second Amended TDP generally uses Expedited Review for domestic unliquidated asbestos claims.
Is Individual Review available?
The TDP states that Individual Review was eliminated for claims other than Foreign Claims as of September 13, 2011.
What latency period does ARTRA require?
The TDP requires evidence establishing at least 10 years between first asbestos exposure and diagnosis.
Does the TDP specifically mention Synkoloid asbestos products?
Yes. It states that from 1949 through 1976 Synkoloid produced joint compound and other similar products containing asbestos.
Get Help Reviewing a Synkoloid-Related ARTRA Trust Claim
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Prior exposure to a Synkoloid product does not automatically establish eligibility for an ARTRA trust claim or other asbestos compensation. Eligibility depends on medical evidence, exposure evidence, current Trust procedures, 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.