Announcements

NARCO: COVID-19 Policy Update

In recognition of the continuing hardships resulting from the current COVID-19 pandemic, effective December 22, 2020, the NARCO Asbestos Trust adopts the following (which replaces and supersedes the Trust’s Notice dated October 22, 2020):

The Trust continues its temporary suspension of any requirement that a document submitted to the Trust be notarized. Documents may be submitted to the Trust without notarization as provided below. The Trust continues its temporary suspension of any requirement that a document be witnessed by more than one person or by a person unrelated to the signatory. Documents may be witnessed by one person who may be a family member.

Provided the claimant’s law firm has entered an electronic filer agreement with the Trust and CRMC, the Trust will continue to accept documents signed by DocuSign or by another commercially reasonable e-signature program. Claimants’ law firms should coordinate submission of documents signed by DocuSign or by another commercially reasonable e-signature program with CRMC.

Any statute of limitations deadlines and the deferral period pursuant to TDP Section 5.3 are extended from March 23, 2020 (as per the notice dated March 27, 2020) through February 28, 2021. The Trust will assess whether to further extend the statute of limitations deadlines before February 15, 2021 and will give at least five business days’ notice if the Trust determines to further extend the deadlines.

If the COVID-19 pandemic presents an issue with regard to other deadlines, claimants may defer the claim or seek reconsideration of such claim by selecting the appropriate option in eClaims.

The provisions of this Notice will expire on February 28, 2021.

NARCO Trust COVID-19 Policy PDF

CET Updated COVID-19 Policy

Statute of Limitation. At this time, the Trust will continue to enforce deadlines for the filing of claims set forth in the Trust documents. However, in recognition of the inability of many claimants to file their claim on a timely basis as a result of circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust will extend the applicable limitation period through March 31, 2021 for claims whose limitation period expires on or after March 20, 2020.

Offers. The Trust recognizes the inability of many claimants, as a result of circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, to respond to offers in the time frame required. As such, where the time to respond to an offer expires on or after March 20, 2020 the Trust will extend the time through March 31, 2021.

Affidavit. In light of current guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trustee recognizes that some claimants may not have access to a notary. The Trust may accept the signature of one witness (related or unrelated) as reliable authentication of an affidavit if the affidavit was executed and submitted to the Trust during the period from March 20, 2020 through March 31, 2021. The Trust will also accept the authentication of affidavits through DocuSign or similar Trust authorized electronic signature program, provided that documentation of the electronic signature history and a certificate from the electronic signature program is submitted with the affidavit. The Trust reserves the right to request supplemental documentation at a later date.

Releases. In light of current guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trustee recognizes that some claimants may not have access to a notary or to two unrelated witnesses for the authentication of releases. The Trust may accept the signature of one witness (related or unrelated) as reliable authentication of a release if the release was executed and submitted to the Trust during the period from March 20, 2020 through March 31, 2021. The Trust will also accept releases executed using DocuSign or similar Trust authorized electronic signature program. If the claimant utilizes DocuSign or a similar Trust authorized electronic signature program, documentation of the electronic signature history and a certificate from the electronic signature program must be provided with the release. The Trust reserves the right to request supplemental documentation at a later date.

Manville: MAP

The Manville Trust has reached its Maximum Annual Payment (MAP) amount for 2020.  Therefore, any claim with a status of “Awaiting Offer Funding” will not receive payment until 2021.  Claims at this status will be carried over to 2021 and placed at the head of the FIFO payment queue. Please refer to the 2002 TDP Section H.8 for further details.

Manville: Temporary Policy Update Extension – COVID 2019

Temporary Policy Changes Regarding (a) Release Signatures and (b) Enforcement of Time Limitations

The Trustees of the Manville Trust are aware that these are difficult and unusual times.  Some filers may not be able to meet the requirements for certain Trust claims due to illness, quarantine or shelter in place orders. Therefore, the Trust has extended the prior deadline from December 31, 2020 through March 31, 2021. The following temporary policies will be in place.

  • For releases generated prior to the changes on March 26, 2020, a release document may be signed by the Injured Party or Personal Representative (when the injured party is deceased) and one witness who may be related by blood or marriage.
  • The timeframe for responding to notices of offer, deficiency, deactivation, and withdrawal has been tolled.
  • The statute of limitations period for filing a claim is tolled.

These policy changes are the result of the current pandemic crisis and are designed to provide temporary measures to assure claimants that claims handling will continue during the crisis.

Permanent Policy Changes Regarding Electronic Signatures:

  • The Trust will accept any document requiring a signature that has been signed utilizing DocuSign or other electronic signature software provided the law firm has an electronic filer agreement on file with CRMC.

The Trust added language to the end of the release on March 26, 2020 so the release need not be notarized or witnessed.

NARCO: COVID-19 Policy Update

NOTICE FROM THE NARCO ASBESTOS TRUST
October 22, 2020


In recognition of the continuing hardships resulting from the current COVID-19 pandemic, effective October 22, 2020, the NARCO Asbestos Trust adopts the following (which replaces and supersedes the Trust’s Notice dated September 22, 2020):

The Trust continues its temporary suspension of any requirement that a document submitted to the Trust be notarized. Documents may be submitted to the Trust without notarization as provided below. The Trust continues its temporary suspension of any requirement that a document be witnessed by more than one person or by a person unrelated to the signatory. Documents may be witnessed by one person who may be a family member.

Provided the claimant’s law firm has entered an electronic filer agreement with the Trust and CRMC, the Trust will continue to accept documents signed by DocuSign or by another commercially reasonable e-signature program. Claimants’ law firms should coordinate submission of documents signed by DocuSign or by another commercially reasonable e-signature program with CRMC.

Any statute of limitations deadlines and the deferral period pursuant to TDP Section 5.3 are extended from March 23, 2020 (as per the notice dated March 27, 2020) through December 31, 2020. The Trust will assess whether to further extend the statute of limitations deadlines before December 15, 2020 and will give at least five business days’ notice if the Trust determines to further extend the deadlines.

If the COVID-19 pandemic presents an issue with regard to other deadlines, claimants may defer the claim or seek reconsideration of such claim by selecting the appropriate option in eClaims.

The provisions of this Notice will expire on December 31, 2020.

NARCO Trust COVID-19 Policy PDF

CET Updated COVID-19 Policy

Statute of Limitation.  At this time, the Trust will continue to enforce deadlines for the filing of claims set forth in the Trust documents. However, in recognition of the inability of many claimants to file their claim on a timely basis as a result of circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust will extend the applicable limitation period through December 31, 2020 for claims whose limitation period expires on or after March 20, 2020.

Offers.  The Trust recognizes the inability of many claimants, as a result of circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, to respond to offers in the time frame required. As such, where the time to respond to an offer expires on or after March 20, 2020 the Trust will extend the time through December 31, 2020.

Affidavit.  In light of current guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trustee recognizes that some claimants may not have access to a notary. The Trust may accept the signature of one witness (related or unrelated) as reliable authentication of an affidavit if the affidavit was executed and submitted to the Trust during the period from March 20, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Trust will also accept the authentication of affidavits through DocuSign or similar Trust authorized electronic signature program, provided that documentation of the electronic signature history and a certificate from the electronic signature program is submitted with the affidavit. The Trust reserves the right to request supplemental documentation at a later date.

Releases.  In light of current guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trustee recognizes that some claimants may not have access to a notary or to two unrelated witnesses for the authentication of releases. The Trust may accept the signature of one witness (related or unrelated) as reliable authentication of a release if the release was executed and submitted to the Trust during the period from March 20, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Trust will also accept releases executed using DocuSign or similar Trust authorized electronic signature program. If the claimant utilizes DocuSign or a similar Trust authorized electronic signature program, documentation of the electronic signature history and a certificate from the electronic signature program must be provided with the release. The Trust reserves the right to request supplemental documentation at a later date.

Manville: MAP

Per Manville’s TDP, the Trust’s distribution to all claimants for the first nine months of a year shall not exceed 85% of the Maximum Annual Payment (MAP) determined for that year.  Manville has reached this limit for 2020.  Therefore, any claim with a status of “Awaiting Offer Funding” will not receive payment until October of 2020.  Please refer to the 2002 TDP Section H.8 for further details.  

NARCO: COVID-19 Policy Update

NOTICE FROM THE NARCO ASBESTOS TRUST
September 22, 2020


In recognition of the continuing hardships resulting from the current COVID-19 pandemic, effective September 22, 2020, the NARCO Asbestos Trust adopts the following (which replaces and supersedes the Trust’s Notice dated August 12, 2020):

The Trust continues its temporary suspension of any requirement that a document submitted to the Trust be notarized. Documents may be submitted to the Trust without notarization as provided below. The Trust continues its temporary suspension of any requirement that a document be witnessed by more than one person or by a person unrelated to the signatory. Documents may be witnessed by one person who may be a family member.

Provided the claimant’s law firm has entered an electronic filer agreement with the Trust  and CRMC, the Trust will continue to accept documents signed by DocuSign or by another commercially reasonable e-signature program. Claimants’ law firms should coordinate submission of documents signed by DocuSign or by another commercially reasonable e-signature program with CRMC.

Any statute of limitations deadlines and the deferral period pursuant to TDP Section 5.3 are extended from March 23, 2020 (as per the notice dated March 27, 2020 through November 1, 2020. The Trust will assess whether to further extend the statute of limitations deadlines before October 15, 2020 and will give at least five business days’ notice if the Trust determines to further extend the deadlines.

The calculation of time with regard to all other deadlines imposed by the TDP or Trust policies or procedures will resume on October 1, 2020.

If the COVID-19 pandemic presents an issue with regard to other deadlines,
claimants may defer the claim or seek reconsideration of such claim by selecting the appropriate option in eClaims.

The provisions of this Notice will expire on November 1, 2020.

NARCO Trust COVID-19 Policy PDF

Manville: Temporary Policy Update Extension – COVID 2019

Temporary Policy Changes Regarding (a) Release Signatures and (b) Enforcement of Time Limitations

The Trustees of the Manville Trust are aware that these are difficult and unusual times.  Some filers may not be able to meet the requirements for certain Trust claims due to illness, quarantine or shelter in place orders. Therefore, the Trust has extended the prior deadline from September 15, 2020 until January 1, 2021. The following temporary policies will be in place.

  • For releases generated prior to the changes on March 26, 2020, a release document may be signed by the Injured Party or Personal Representative (when the injured party is deceased) and one witness who may be related by blood or marriage.
  • The timeframe for responding to notices of offer, deficiency, deactivation, and withdrawal has been tolled.
  • The statute of limitations period for filing a claim is tolled.

These policy changes are the result of the current pandemic crisis and are designed to provide temporary measures to assure claimants that claims handling will continue during the crisis.

Permanent Policy Changes Regarding Electronic Signatures:

  • The Trust will accept any document requiring a signature that has been signed utilizing DocuSign or other electronic signature software provided the law firm has an electronic filer agreement on file with CRMC.
  • The Trust added language to the end of the release on March 26, 2020 so the release need not be notarized or witnessed.

Durabla: Claim Processor

CRMC is pleased to announce we have been selected as the claims’ processor for the Durabla Manufacturing Company and Durabla Canada Ltd. Asbestos Trust. Claim forms and instructions are available on our website under the documents tab along with other filing documents required to begin the filing process. If you plan to file as a hybrid filer please complete the Hybrid Filer Agreement, and User Administrator Form. We will obtain an updated W-9 and EFT agreement later on. These forms should be emailed in PDF format to Donita Snow at DSnow@claimsres.com. Please review the notice regarding the initial intake period and contact us should you have questions. eClaims has been updated to accept the key pieces of information required to toll the statute of limitations. Once it has been fully programmed, we will notify you. Web services and batch are also available.

If you need assistance, please reach out to CRMC at inquiry@claimsres.com.