United Gilsonite Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
The United Gilsonite Laboratories Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established through United Gilsonite Laboratories’ Chapter 11 reorganization to process, liquidate and pay qualifying asbestos personal-injury claims. The Trust remains active and publishes current claim documents, notices and annual reporting. Its current general Payment Percentage is 3.35%, effective April 11, 2024. The Trust’s 2024 annual report states that 116 claims were paid during 2024 for $849,171 after application of the Payment Percentage and that 1,184 Trust Claims had been paid through December 31, 2024.
United Gilsonite Asbestos Trust Facts
| Official trust name | United Gilsonite Laboratories Asbestos Personal Injury Trust |
|---|---|
| Associated debtor | United Gilsonite Laboratories |
| Plan Effective Date / Trust establishment | December 31, 2014 |
| Claims administrator | Claims Processing Facility, Inc. |
| Claims accepted | Paper claims beginning December 17, 2015; online filing beginning March 17, 2016 |
| Initial Claims Filing Date | June 17, 2016 |
| Current general Payment Percentage | 3.35%, effective April 11, 2024 |
| Released Claims Payment Percentage | 11% for the specifically defined Released Claims described in the September 2024 notice |
| 2024 claims paid | 116 claims totaling $849,171 after application of the Payment Percentage |
| Claims paid through December 31, 2024 | 1,184 Trust Claims |
| Current status | Active |
Bankruptcy and Trust History
The Trust was established under the Modified First Amended Plan of Reorganization of United Gilsonite Laboratories under Chapter 11. The 2024 audited financial statements identify December 31, 2014 as the Plan Effective Date and the date the Trust was established.
At formation, the Plan provided $17,036,880 in cash contributions, a $7,250,000 UGL promissory note, a $375,000 shareholder promissory note and transferred insurance rights stated at $10,355,835. Those figures describe historical formation funding and are not presented as the Trust’s current assets.
The Trust began accepting paper claims on December 17, 2015 and online claims on March 17, 2016. The 2024 financial statements state that claim payments began in June 2016.
Who May Qualify for a United Gilsonite Claim?
The TDP establishes eight Disease Levels. Seven are eligible for Expedited Review, while Lung Cancer 2 requires Individual Review. Claimants must establish the medical and exposure criteria applicable to the Disease Level being claimed.
Mesothelioma requires a qualifying diagnosis and Debtor Exposure. Lung Cancer 1, Other Cancer, Severe Asbestosis and certain nonmalignant claims require additional occupational exposure and medical evidence. Secondary Exposure Claims are addressed separately under the TDP and require proof connecting the directly exposed person to UGL-responsible asbestos exposure and connecting the secondary exposure to the claimed disease.
Disease Levels and Claim Values
The TDP publishes the following base Scheduled, Average and Maximum Values. The Trust subsequently amended its procedures to provide an automatic 1.75% annual increase in Scheduled Values and, where applicable, Average and Maximum Values. Therefore, the figures below are labeled as TDP base values rather than represented as unadjusted 2026 values.
| Disease Level | Base Scheduled Value | Base Average Value | Base Maximum Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesothelioma — Level VIII | $200,000 | $225,000 | $400,000 |
| Lung Cancer 1 — Level VII | $21,000 | $22,500 | $30,000 |
| Lung Cancer 2 — Level VI | Individual Review | $12,000 | $15,500 |
| Other Cancer — Level V | $9,000 | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| Severe Asbestosis — Level IV | $12,000 | $12,500 | $15,000 |
| Asbestosis/Pleural Disease — Level III | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Asbestosis/Pleural Disease — Level II | $900 | $900 | $900 |
| Other Asbestos Disease — Level I | $0 | $0 | $0 |
The Sixth Amendment provides for the annual 1.75% adjustment and also increased the claims-processing fee to $100, refundable when a claim is allowed. Claimants should use the Trust’s current inflation-adjustment notice when calculating a current liquidated value.
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Current United Gilsonite Payment Percentage
An official Trust notice dated September 26, 2024 states that, effective April 11, 2024, the general Payment Percentage was set at 3.35% with the consent of the Trust Advisory Committee and Future Claimants’ Representative.
The same notice makes an important distinction for a defined group of Released Claims. Those claims are paid using an 11% Released Claims Payment Percentage if they satisfy the notice’s timing and release requirements. The 11% figure should not be confused with the current 3.35% general Payment Percentage.
The TDP states that, except for Disease Level I and other specified exceptions, a liquidated claim is ultimately paid on a pro-rata basis using the applicable Payment Percentage.
Mathematical illustration only — not a guaranteed payment. Using the TDP’s $200,000 base Mesothelioma Scheduled Value purely to demonstrate the percentage calculation, $200,000 × 3.35% = $6,700. Because the Trust now applies annual inflation adjustments to Scheduled Values, a current claim should be valued using the applicable current adjusted value rather than assuming the original $200,000 base value controls.
Claim Filing and Review Procedures
The Trust offers Expedited Review for seven Disease Levels that satisfy the applicable presumptive Medical/Exposure Criteria. A qualifying Expedited Review claim receives the Scheduled Value for its Disease Level, with payment subject to the applicable Payment Percentage and other TDP limitations.
Individual Review is available for specified claims and is mandatory for Lung Cancer 2. Individual Review determines a claim-specific liquidated value subject to the Average and Maximum Values and other provisions of the TDP.
The Trust uses FIFO processing and payment queues. Current Trust materials also provide Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures and claim-audit programs. The September 2024 amendment increased the claim-processing fee to $100; the fee is refunded if the claim is allowed.
Medical and Exposure Requirements
The TDP generally requires a 10-year latency period between first asbestos exposure and diagnosis. The exact medical evidence varies by Disease Level and may include pathology, radiographic evidence, pulmonary-function testing and physician documentation.
For Lung Cancer 1, the TDP requires primary lung cancer plus evidence of an underlying bilateral asbestos-related nonmalignant disease, six months of Debtor Exposure before May 22, 1980, Significant Occupational Exposure and medical documentation supporting asbestos exposure as a contributing factor. Other Disease Levels have their own criteria.
Exposure evidence can include employment and work-history records, affidavits, invoices, construction records and other credible evidence permitted by the TDP. Secondary Exposure Claims require additional proof of the directly exposed person’s qualifying exposure and the relationship between that exposure and the claimant’s disease.
2024 Financial and Claims Information
The Trust’s filed 2024 annual report and audited financial statements provide unusually useful primary-source claim information. During 2024, the Trust liquidated and paid 116 Trust Claims totaling $849,171 after application of the Payment Percentage. As of December 31, 2024, the Trust reported that it had paid 1,184 Trust Claims since claim payments began.
The financial statements also document the Trust’s original funding and explain that Trust assets consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and investments intended to satisfy present and future claims and operating expenses.
Historical formation contributions are not presented as current assets. Likewise, the 2024 annual claim-payment statistics are dated explicitly so readers do not mistake them for 2026 totals.
Confirmed Primary Sources for Trust Facts
No law-firm or lead-generation website was used as factual authority for this page. Primary Trust materials reviewed include:
- Official United Gilsonite Laboratories Asbestos Personal Injury Trust website.
- Official Trust resources and claim-document library.
- Official Trust notices and annual-report page.
- Official Trust Distribution Procedures.
- Official September 26, 2024 Payment Percentage notice.
- Official 2024 Annual Report and Financial Statements filed with the Bankruptcy Court.
- Official Sixth Amendment addressing annual value adjustments and the claim-processing fee.
Related Asbestos Trust Fund Resources
Asbestos Trust Fund Information
Filing and Eligibility
Payments and Financial Information
Frequently Asked Questions About the United Gilsonite Asbestos Trust
What is the official name of the United Gilsonite asbestos trust?
It is the United Gilsonite Laboratories Asbestos Personal Injury Trust.
What is the current United Gilsonite Payment Percentage?
The current general Payment Percentage is 3.35%, effective April 11, 2024, according to the Trust’s official September 2024 notice.
Why does the Trust also mention an 11% percentage?
The 11% rate applies only to the specifically defined Released Claims described in the official notice. It is not the current general Payment Percentage.
What is the mesothelioma Scheduled Value?
The TDP publishes a $200,000 base Scheduled Value for Mesothelioma Level VIII. The Trust subsequently adopted automatic annual 1.75% adjustments, so current valuation should use the applicable adjusted value.
Does United Gilsonite offer Expedited Review?
Yes. Seven Disease Levels can qualify for Expedited Review when the applicable presumptive medical and exposure criteria are met.
Does United Gilsonite offer Individual Review?
Yes. Individual Review is available under the TDP and is required for Lung Cancer 2 claims.
How many claims did the Trust pay in 2024?
The filed 2024 annual report states that 116 Trust Claims were paid during 2024, totaling $849,171 after application of the Payment Percentage.
How many claims had United Gilsonite paid through the end of 2024?
The official annual report states that the Trust had paid 1,184 Trust Claims as of December 31, 2024.
Get Help Reviewing a United Gilsonite Asbestos Claim
Call 800.291.0963
Live chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Prior asbestos exposure does not automatically establish eligibility for a United Gilsonite trust claim or asbestos lawsuit. Eligibility depends on medical and 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.