An asbestos bankruptcy trust was filed for in 2011 for General Motors Corporation (GM), NY under the name Motors Liquidation Co.. Asbestos bankruptcy trusts are typically set up so that people who become victims of asbestos exposure can potentially obtain financial compensation for any illness incurred as a result of such exposure, including mesothelioma.
GM Bankruptcy Asbestos Trust for Victims of Asbestos Injury
It has been nearly two years since General Motors Corporation ("GM") filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in 2009, but a Federal Bankruptcy Judge approved a plan on March 31, 2011, that will set up four separate trusts for the “Old GM”, one of which will be for asbestos-related claims.
GM's cars and trucks were sold for years with asbestos containing friction materials including brakes and clutches, as well as gaskets and mufflers. GM's replacement car parts also contained asbestos. Many who were exposed to GM asbestos containing products worked in the factories that assembled brakes and clutches.
Others who were also exposed were mechanics and warehouses workers where supplies had to be inspected and unpacked. Asbestos containing parts would arrive at the warehouse in boxes and then “pickers” would open the boxes, check the product inside for quantity and quality, and then either reseal the box or store the product loose on a warehouse shelf. The warehouse conditions were often very dusty and with little ventilation, and workers were not given adequate warning, training, or protective gear.
Asbestos, when intact, sealed, or encapsulated and in good condition does not pose a threat. But when asbestos containing materials are disturbed in any way, such as through inspection, repair or removal, then microscopic fibers can be released into the air. These are then inhaled or ingested into the body and become lodged in the lining of the internal organs, decades later developing into mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer.
General Motors had warehouses throughout the United States. Some of the asbestos containing products they manufactured are:
The $625 million trust (In re: Motors Liquidation Co., et al., No. 09-50026, S.D. N. Y. Bkcy) set up for asbestos related claims should help those who have developed mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases to cover the high medical costs and compensate for loss of wages and/or loss of life. Click here to download the full order: Mealeysonline.com - Document #48-110228-021R
If you or someone you know has an occupational history of working around GM products, call toll free at 1-800-440-4262 to consult with one of our expert mesothelioma attorneys about what rights you might have and to learn about filing an asbestos lawsuit.
Contact the asbestos lawyers at Clapper, Patti Schweizer & Mason for more information on the bankruptcy trust for General Motors Corporation (GM), or if you have any other questions regarding mesothelioma.