J.T. Thorpe Inc.

J.T. Thorpe Inc. History of Asbestos Use

J.T. Thorpe Inc. was initially founded in 1906 in the California Bay Area as J.T. Thorpe & Sons Inc. The company has a long history with many different owners, affiliated companies and name changes. This article refers to J.T. Thorpe Inc., which operated as a refractory manufacturer and contractor in California.

J.T. Thorpe & Sons Inc. was founded in 1906. In 1922, it was officially incorporated as J.T. Thorpe Inc. Records show the company installed and distributed asbestos refractory materials beginning in the mid-1920s. As a contractor, the company serviced many industries, including power plants and metal forges.

Refractory materials had to withstand high temperatures. Asbestos was a common ingredient in refractory products because of its ability to resist intense heat.

In the late 1930s, the company expanded its services to shipyards. J.T. Thorpe Inc. installed asbestos-containing products at shipyards and on Navy ships during World War II.

The company continued to successfully operate as a refractory contractor for shipyards and other industries. Records indicate the company distributed asbestos materials until the late 1980s. However, around the time asbestos use on ships ended, J.T. Thorpe Inc. began to experience difficulties from rising asbestos litigation costs.

From 1986 to 2002, J.T. Thorpe Inc. began a complex set of maneuvers designed to avoid these costs and keep the company afloat. This included creating new companies and offloading debt to them while ceasing operations under the original J.T. Thorpe Inc. name and assuming a new, similar name.

In 2002, J.T. Thorpe Inc. filed for bankruptcy because of rising litigation costs from its use of asbestos. The J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust was created in 2006 to satisfy new and existing asbestos exposure claims.

Today, the company operates as J.T. Thorpe & Son Inc., and the trust continues to accept and pay claims.

J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust Fund

J.T. Thorpe Inc. filed for bankruptcy in 2002. As a result of bankruptcy proceedings, the J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust was created in June 2006 with initial funding of $154 million. The asbestos bankruptcy trust fund was established to pay out asbestos claims for:

• J.T. Thorpe Inc.
• J.T. Thorpe
• Thorpe Holding Company
• Thorpe Technologies Inc.

It should not be confused with the JT Thorpe Company Successor Trust or the Thorpe Insulation Settlement Trust, which were both created by other wholly independent companies.

Individuals who were exposed to asbestos from products or work associated with J.T. Thorpe Inc. and later developed an asbestos disease may file trust fund claims. Successful claimants may receive compensation from the trust. The trust has paid thousands of claimants since its establishment in 2006.

Most Recent Information From J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust

The trust’s year-end 2024 report revealed, as of December 31, 2024:

• Over 130 J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust claims were paid.
• Approximately 260 asbestos claims were received by the trust.
• The trust paid over $6.49 million in claim settlements.
• Approximately $126.28 million in total assets remain in the trust.

Current J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust Payment Percentage

The current payment percentage is 50% for the J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust. Payments on J.T. Thorpe settlement trust claims are calculated as a pro-rata share of the liquidated value assigned to the claim. At a payment percentage of 50%, a J.T. Thorpe mesothelioma claim valued at $150,000 under the Trust’s valuation framework would result in a payout of approximately $75,000. Actual compensation may vary depending on the specific factors of the claims and the applicable valuation method.

Determining Review Process When Filing a J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust Asbestos Claim

An experienced asbestos lawyer will evaluate the claimant’s case to determine the appropriate claim type when submitting a J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust asbestos claim. Claims may be submitted as Matrix claims, Individual Review (IR) claims, or Extraordinary Review claims. The Trust determines the value of the claims based on factors such as age, diagnosis, exposure history, economic loss, medical expenses, death expenses and the law firm’s settlement history.

• Matrix Review: Claims that meet the trust’s presumptive medical and exposure criteria are evaluated under the Case Valuation Matrix, which assigns base, average, and maximum values.
• Individual Review: The claimant’s exposure, medical, and personal records are thoroughly reviewed to determine an individual liquidated value. IR submission is required when the claim does not meet the medical or exposure criteria. Claims filed through the IR process may lead to higher payouts.
• Extraordinary Review: A claim may qualify as extraordinary when exposure to J.T. Thorpe, Inc. products constitutes more than 80% of the total asbestos exposure, or when the claim involves exceptionally large damages, including medical expenses. In such cases, the Trust will assign a value exceeding standard Matrix limits.

The trust is currently accepting claims to compensate victims. If you or a loved one were exposed to J.T. Thorpe asbestos products and believe you are entitled to compensation, learn how a mesothelioma lawyer can help.

J.T. Thorpe Inc. Asbestos Products

J.T. Thorpe Inc. distributed and installed refractory materials for businesses around California. Refractories are materials typically made of ceramic meant to withstand extremely high temperatures. They are more heat-resistant than metal. J.T. Thorpe Inc.’s refractory materials contained asbestos for added heat and pressure resistance.

Refractory products are often used in manufacturing and industrial applications. They are used to line high-temperature equipment like fireplaces, boilers, kilns and furnaces.

J.T. Thorpe Inc. and Occupational Exposure

Individuals who worked at J.T. Thorpe Inc. risked asbestos exposure during the manufacturing process. Any exposure can lead to asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

Workers at companies that used these refractory materials may have also risked exposure. As the materials wear or need repair, the asbestos can become disturbed. If the asbestos fibers became airborne, the workers risked occupational asbestos exposure. Records also show J.T. Thorpe Inc. products were used aboard military ships, potentially exposing veterans to the dangerous mineral.

Workers at J.T. Thorpe Inc. and other companies may have unknowingly brought asbestos fibers home with them on their clothes or body. If a family member comes in contact with these fibers, it is called secondary asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Litigation Against J.T. Thorpe Inc.

J.T. Thorpe Inc. exposed thousands of individuals to asbestos, including its own employees. Many of these individuals developed asbestos-related illnesses and may be eligible for compensation.

J.T. Thorpe Inc. and its associated companies have been named in many asbestos lawsuits since 1990. One case involved a 79-year-old Navy worker and laborer in Los Angeles, California. The man received a $1.46 million settlement from J.T. Thorpe Inc.

Rising litigation and award costs led to the asbestos company filing for bankruptcy in 2002.