Leslie Controls Inc.

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.

Leslie Controls Inc. 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.

Throughout most of Leslie’s business operations, the company relied on asbestos for its affordability, availability, and resistance to heat and fire.

Many of the company’s products contained asbestos, which placed numerous workers at risk for fatal illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. Asbestos-related claims and lawsuits followed.

Leslie Controls Inc. Lawsuit and Bankruptcy

By the 2000s, Leslie Controls faced over 1,000 asbestos lawsuits from former employees and workers in other industries (including people who worked aboard U.S. Naval ships) exposed to deadly asbestos fibers via the company’s products.

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.

Leslie Controls Inc. Asbestos-Containing Products

The following Leslie Controls products were confirmed to contain asbestos before the company stopped using it:

• Pipes
• Gaskets
• Insulation
• Controls
• Actuators
• Water heaters
• Regulators
• Control valves

If you worked with Leslie control products, you could be at risk for developing an asbestos illness. An experienced asbestos attorney can help you decide what to do next.

Additional Information and Resources for Asbestos Victims

Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.