Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust
Eligibility, payouts, and how to file. Last reviewed: 2026-05-03.
See if you qualify for the Federal-Mogul Trust
About the Federal-Mogul Trust
Federal-Mogul Corporation is a major automotive and industrial parts manufacturer, with a product line that historically included asbestos brake linings, clutch facings, gaskets, and engine bearings. Through subsidiaries including Felt Products Manufacturing (Fel-Pro gaskets) and various brake-component brands, Federal-Mogul supplied the automotive aftermarket and OEM channels with friction products containing chrysotile asbestos from the 1940s through the late 1980s.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2001 and the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust was established in 2007 with $1+ billion in initial funding. The trust currently pays at 15% pro rata on a $60,000 scheduled mesothelioma value.
Bankruptcy and trust establishment
The Federal-Mogul Trust is the primary trust for automotive and brake-mechanic claimants. Auto repair shop workers, brake mechanics, automotive parts handlers, and DIY home mechanics who routinely handled asbestos-containing brake linings and gaskets are the core eligible population. Estimated payouts run in the $8,000–$11,000 range per claim.
Products and exposure sources covered
The trust covers Federal-Mogul brake linings, clutch facings, automotive gaskets (Fel-Pro brand), engine bearings, and various automotive friction products manufactured during the asbestos era. Brake-related claims are the largest single category — every brake job during the era involved cleaning out existing brake dust (highly friable, contained chrysotile) and installing new linings (also asbestos-containing).
Specific asbestos-containing products manufactured or distributed by this company:
- Brake linings
- Clutch facings
- Gaskets
- Engine bearings
Eligibility criteria
To file a claim with the Federal-Mogul Trust, you generally need to demonstrate:
- Qualifying diagnosis: Mesothelioma, Lung cancer, Asbestosis
- Documented exposure to Federal-Mogul Trust products during the trust's covered exposure window (1940–1990)
- Work history records placing you at a job site where these products were used (employer records, union records, witness statements, military service records)
- Medical documentation (pathology reports, imaging, treating physician records)
Auto mechanics, brake mechanics, transmission specialists, and automotive parts shop workers from the 1940s-1980s have the strongest documentation paths. Family members of auto workers sometimes qualify for take-home exposure claims. Industrial workers handling Federal-Mogul gaskets in non-automotive contexts (refineries, manufacturing) also qualify.
How to file with the Federal-Mogul Trust
- Gather documentation — diagnosis records, work history, military service records (DD-214), product identification
- Complete the trust's claim form — Each trust has its own form
- File with all applicable trusts — multi-trust filing simultaneously is the standard approach
- Trust review — typically 3–9 months
- Payment — typically 2–6 months after approval
Most claimants qualify for several trusts, not just one. Filing with all applicable trusts at once maximizes total compensation. Start your free case review and we'll identify every applicable trust for your specific work history.
Compensation amounts
Reported scheduled value for mesothelioma claims: $60,000. The trust's current pro rata payment percentage is 15%, meaning the actual payout typically falls in the range of $8,000–$11,000.
These figures are based on Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs) and historical payout data. Pro rata percentages can change. Actual recovery varies by case factors including diagnosis severity, exposure documentation, and trust funding levels at the time of payment. Past payouts do not guarantee future amounts.
Common qualifying occupations
The Federal-Mogul Trust commonly accepts claims from workers in these occupations:
Multi-trust filing strategy
The Federal-Mogul Trust is rarely the only trust a mesothelioma claimant qualifies for. Most workers exposed to brake linings were also exposed to products covered by other bankruptcy trusts. Filing with multiple trusts simultaneously is standard practice and significantly increases total compensation.
Related trusts that often apply alongside the Federal-Mogul Trust
- H.K. Porter Trust — 6% pro rata, est. payout $1,500–$2,200
- Raymark Trust — 6% pro rata, est. payout $1,500–$2,200
- Dresser Industries Trust — 15% pro rata, est. payout $7,000–$9,500
- Garlock Trust — 22% pro rata, est. payout $14,000–$19,000
- Johns Manville Trust — 5.1% pro rata, est. payout $1,100–$4,500
Deadlines and statute of limitations
The Federal-Mogul Trust generally accepts claims on a rolling basis with no fixed annual deadline, though the trust may modify procedures from time to time. The applicable statute of limitations for the underlying asbestos claim depends on your state of residence and typically runs from the date of diagnosis (1–3 years in most states for personal injury; longer for wrongful death in some jurisdictions).
Always verify current deadlines with the trust administrator or a licensed attorney before filing. We track deadlines for our clients so you don't miss a filing window.
Frequently asked questions
I was a brake mechanic in the 1970s — what trusts apply?
Federal-Mogul is the primary trust. You should also consider Raymark Industries Trust (similar friction products), Bendix Asbestos Trust (Honeywell), and the Pneumo Abex Trust. Most brake mechanics qualify for 3-5 friction-product trusts simultaneously.
Were Fel-Pro gaskets asbestos?
Many Fel-Pro automotive gaskets manufactured before the late 1980s contained chrysotile asbestos as a heat-resistant fiber. The Federal-Mogul Trust covers Fel-Pro gasket exposure for mechanics who routinely scraped, sanded, or replaced these gaskets during engine work.
I worked at a tire/auto shop but didn't do brakes specifically. Do I qualify?
Likely yes. Auto shop environments routinely had asbestos brake dust airborne from any technician doing brake work, and gasket exposure occurred during many engine and transmission repairs. Working in the shop alongside brake/engine mechanics typically establishes sufficient exposure for trust eligibility.
What about home DIY mechanics?
DIY auto enthusiasts who routinely did their own brake work or engine repairs during the asbestos era can have legitimate exposure claims, though documentation is harder than employed mechanics. Photos of work, parts purchase records, and witness statements from family members can establish exposure history.
My garage handled imports — were imported brake parts also asbestos?
Imported brake parts often contained asbestos through later years than U.S.-made parts (some imports continued asbestos use into the early 1990s). The exposure history is similar regardless of part origin if you handled friction-product replacements.
Sources and verification
Information on this page is based on publicly available Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs), bankruptcy court Plans of Reorganization (PACER), trust annual reports, and RAND Institute for Civil Justice asbestos trust research. Reviewed quarterly.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-03 · Next scheduled review: 2026-08-03
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