What Is the Johns-Manville Trust Fund?

History of Johns-Manville

Johns-Manville Corporation was one of the largest manufacturers of asbestos-containing products in the United States. For most of the 20th century, the company produced insulation, roofing materials, pipe coverings, cement products, brake linings, and numerous other asbestos products used in construction, shipbuilding, automotive, and industrial applications. These products were so widely used that millions of workers across dozens of industries were exposed to Johns-Manville asbestos.

Internal documents revealed that Johns-Manville executives were aware of the health dangers of asbestos as early as the 1930s but continued production and actively suppressed safety information. This corporate knowledge became central evidence in the tens of thousands of lawsuits that eventually drove the company into bankruptcy in 1982.

The Trust Fund

As part of its bankruptcy reorganization, Johns-Manville was required to establish a personal injury settlement trust to compensate current and future asbestos disease victims. The trust, which began operations in 1988, was one of the first of its kind and served as a model for the many asbestos trust funds established in subsequent decades. It was funded with billions of dollars from the reorganized company's assets and an equity stake in the successor company.

The trust processes claims according to its Trust Distribution Process (TDP), which establishes scheduled values for different disease categories and payment percentages that are adjusted periodically based on the trust's financial health.

Filing a Claim

To file a claim with the Johns-Manville Trust, you must demonstrate that you have a qualifying asbestos disease (mesothelioma receives the highest priority and scheduled value) and that you were exposed to Johns-Manville asbestos products. Given the company's products were used in virtually every major industry, many mesothelioma patients have qualifying exposure. The documentation required includes medical records confirming your diagnosis and evidence of exposure to Johns-Manville products.

Your mesothelioma attorney can determine whether your exposure history includes Johns-Manville products and handle the entire claims process on your behalf.

Significance for Mesothelioma Patients

The Johns-Manville Trust remains one of the most important sources of compensation for mesothelioma patients. Because Johns-Manville products were so widely distributed, a significant percentage of mesothelioma patients are eligible to file claims. The trust's continued operation decades after its establishment demonstrates the lasting commitment to compensating victims of asbestos exposure.