Was Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD / General Motors) — asbestos documented in litigation?

Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD / General Motors) — is documented in public asbestos litigation records as a manufacturer whose products contained asbestos during the mid-twentieth century. Workers in industrial facilities, power plants, refineries, shipyards, and commercial construction who handled or worked near these products may have experienced occupational exposure.

Which trades had the most exposure?

Pipe coverers and insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, millwrights, and maintenance workers are among the trades most frequently documented in asbestos exposure claims. Workers who cut, fitted, or removed asbestos-containing products — and those working in close proximity during that work — typically had the highest fiber concentrations.

How long do workers have to file an asbestos claim?

Statutes of limitations for asbestos personal injury claims vary by state, typically ranging from one to five years from the date of an asbestos-related diagnosis. The clock generally starts at diagnosis, not exposure — mesothelioma can have a latency period of 20 to 50 years. An asbestos attorney can identify the deadlines that apply to your specific situation.

Can workers file claims related to Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD / General Motors) — asbestos exposure?

Yes. Workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis after exposure to Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD / General Motors) — products may pursue claims through civil litigation. An experienced asbestos attorney can assess available defendants, applicable trust funds from co-defendants, and the states where claims can be filed most effectively.

Can family members file secondary exposure claims?

Spouses, children, and household members who developed asbestos-related disease through contact with contaminated work clothing brought home by an exposed worker may be eligible for secondary (household) exposure claims. Wrongful-death claims can also be filed by surviving family members of workers who died from asbestos-related disease.

Electrical

EMD / GM Diesel-Electric Locomotives

⚖ Litigation Recordc. 1930s-1980sAsbestos engine-room insulation, exhaust manifold insulation, electrical wire and traction-motor insulation, asbestos gaskets

Overview Product Facts Trades

Litigation Record: Information below reflects allegations in publicly filed asbestos litigation — plaintiff allegations, not findings of fact.

Product Description

Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. — historically operated as the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors Corporation, today an independent locomotive manufacturer — was through the second half of the 20th century the dominant U.S. diesel-electric locomotive manufacturer. EMD GP, SD, F, and E-unit locomotives were specified by every major U.S. Class I railroad, by numerous short-line and industrial railroads, and exported worldwide.

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that EMD diesel-electric locomotives were specified with extensive asbestos-containing materials:

Asbestos engine-room thermal insulation
Asbestos exhaust-manifold and turbocharger insulation
Asbestos electrical wire insulation on traction-motor and generator wiring
Asbestos gaskets at cylinder heads, exhaust manifolds, and engine accessories
Asbestos brake-shoe friction material on locomotive trucks (often supplied by Abex or WABCO)
Asbestos arc-chute components in traction control switchgear

Electro-Motive Diesel / General Motors has been named as a Manufacturer Defendant in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation.

Workers Exposed

Locomotive engineers and firemen operating EMD power
Locomotive maintenance workers servicing engines in shops
Railroad shop machinists rebuilding EMD engines and traction motors
Diesel mechanics at industrial-railroad and mining-railroad shops
Electrical shop technicians working traction generators and motors

If You Worked With EMD Locomotives

If you operated, maintained, or rebuilt EMD diesel-electric locomotives during the asbestos era — including in Class I railroad shop work, industrial-railroad service, or transit-property maintenance — and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness — you may have legal rights.

Free, confidential case evaluation: Speak with O’Brien Law Firm — (314) 936-2956

Product Facts

Trade NameEMD / GM Diesel-Electric Locomotives

Years Producedc. 1930s-1980s

Asbestos ContentAsbestos engine-room insulation, exhaust manifold insulation, electrical wire and traction-motor insulation, asbestos gaskets

CategoryElectrical Gaskets Brake-Friction

Trust FundNo active trust

Exposed Trades & Occupations

Locomotive engineersLocomotive maintenance workersRailroad shop machinistsDiesel mechanics

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Were You Exposed to an Asbestos-Containing Product?

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and were exposed to asbestos-containing products, you and your family may be entitled to significant compensation through asbestos trust funds and civil litigation. An attorney experienced in product liability and asbestos claims can evaluate your case — at no cost to you.

Free case evaluation — no obligation to hire
No attorney fee unless we make a financial recovery
Statutes of limitations may limit the time you have to act
Trust fund claims, civil lawsuits, and VA benefits pursued simultaneously

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Asbestos Product Liability & Mesothelioma Claims

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