Leslie Controls Inc. used asbestos to make industrial products for decades. It supplied the U.S. Navy during World War II, putting sailors and its own workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Lawsuits over asbestos led to bankruptcy and the establishment of a trust fund to process claims.
If you suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.
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Did Leslie Controls Use Asbestos?
Leslie Controls has been manufacturing valves and similar industrial products for more than 100 years. Often used in high-temperature equipment like boilers, these products needed to withstand heat and prevent leaks.
To insulate their valves and reduce heat loss, Leslie Controls used asbestos for decades until about 1988. Leslie no longer uses asbestos, but past use caused exposure and illness in many workers and Navy veterans.
Leslie Controls History
Leslie Controls was founded in the early 20th century by John Leslie, a Canadian inventor best known for creating a steam-powered snow plow for locomotives.
- At the beginning of the 1900s, the company opened a machine shop in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, where it began manufacturing regulators and steam pressure valves.
- When World War I began, Leslie Controls created steam control equipment for the military and U.S. Naval ships. This continued throughout World War II, which helped the company grow significantly.
- After the wars, Leslie Controls continued to thrive. It moved its headquarters to Tampa, Florida, and added many new products to its line, including fluid management products, pumps, pipe parts, and additional control valves.
- In 1990, Watt Industries bought Leslie Controls, which expanded the company worldwide and created more than 100 U.S.-based manufacturing plants.
- Many of the company’s products contained asbestos, which placed workers at risk for exposure and asbestos illnesses. Asbestos-related claims and lawsuits followed.
- Leslie filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and created an asbestos trust fund to handle claims. Today, Leslie is a brand of products made and sold by CIRCOR.
What Products Did Leslie Controls Make with Asbestos?
Leslie Controls manufactured steam pressure products for several industries, including railroads, shipyards, and the U.S. Navy. These products were designed to be durable, to insulate, and to seal components to reduce the loss of heat and steam.
Asbestos was an ideal material to meet all these needs. Until 1988, Leslie used asbestos in numerous products, including:
- Pipes
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Controls
- Actuators
- Water heaters
- Regulators
- Control valves
- Packing
Workers at Risk of Exposure to Asbestos from Leslie Controls
Employees of Leslie Controls who worked in the manufacturing facilities faced high risks of exposure to asbestos. By handling and using asbestos to make products, they likely disturbed fibers that entered the air of the plant. Anyone working there probably inhaled harmful asbestos fibers.
Also at risk of asbestos exposure were any workers in industries that used Leslie Controls asbestos products:
- Industrial workers
- Factory workers
- Railway workers
- Steam engine workers
- Steamfitters
- Pipefitters
- Boiler workers
- Engineers
- Insulators
- Machinists
- Shipyard workers
- Navy veterans
Leslie was a major supplier to the U.S. Navy during peak asbestos use. Because of Leslie and other suppliers, Navy veterans now have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma.
Leslie Controls Asbestos Lawsuits
By the 2000s, Leslie Controls faced over 1,000 asbestos lawsuits from former employees and workers in other industries exposed to deadly asbestos fibers via the company’s products.
- John Davis worked with multiple Leslie Controls asbestos products throughout his career. He was later diagnosed with mesothelioma and filed a lawsuit against Leslie and other defendants. He claimed that he inhaled asbestos fibers on the job and that companies that provided asbestos products never warned him and other workers of the risks. A jury awarded Davis $5 million and determined Leslie to be 7.1% liable.
- Richard Merrill was a Navy veteran who was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He worked with products supplied by Leslie Controls and claimed that they exposed him to asbestos. Merrill won $1 million in damages, but Leslie successfully reversed the result during the appeals process.
Bankruptcy and Asbestos Trust Fund
Leslie Controls filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010, citing the large amounts of claims against it as the primary reason.
After emerging from bankruptcy, the Leslie Controls Asbestos Personal Industry Trust was created and funded with $75 million.
According to Bloomberg Business, Leslie Controls pre-negotiated establishing an asbestos trust fund before filing bankruptcy to handle the substantial claims.
“The cost of defending and resolving Asbestos PI Claims asserted against Leslie has been and continues to be substantial.”
Leslie Control chief restructuring officer, G. Wayne Day.
The trust was primarily funded from money via the company’s insurance companies, including $2.6 million from a prior settlement agreement between Leslie Controls and the Continental Casualty Company.
Today, the payment percentage for the Leslie Asbestos Trust is 5%. Current claimants receive just 5% of their total claim amounts to ensure funds exist for future claimants.
What to Do if You Were Exposed to Leslie Control Asbestos Products
If you worked with Leslie Control products, you could be at risk for developing an asbestos illness. If you know or suspect you were exposed to asbestos in the past, talk to your doctor about the risks and important screenings.
Contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to find out what your legal options are. You could be eligible to make a claim with the Leslie Trust or to make additional claims or file lawsuits against other companies that exposed you to asbestos.
Additional Information and Resources for Asbestos Victims
Remember to fill out our form for your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
References
View All ReferencesLeslie Controls Inc Asbestos FAQs
Did Leslie Controls Inc make products that contained asbestos?
Yes. Leslie Controls Inc is among the companies linked to asbestos exposure. The specific products involved, and the years they contained asbestos, are described above on this page. Workers who handled or worked near those products, and in some cases their family members, could have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
Can I get compensation for Leslie Controls Inc asbestos exposure?
Possibly. If you were exposed to Leslie Controls Inc asbestos products and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be able to recover compensation. Depending on the company’s status, that can come through a lawsuit, a bankruptcy trust claim, or both. A free case review can confirm which options apply to your exposure.
How do I prove asbestos exposure from Leslie Controls Inc?
Exposure is usually documented with your work history, identification of the specific products, the job sites and dates involved, co-worker statements, and your medical records. An asbestos attorney gathers this evidence for you. Speak with a mesothelioma lawyer at no cost to get started.