New Web Based Claim System
Posted 07/22/2015
The Trust is pleased to announce the ability to now submit claims in its new Web based claims processing system. Please refer to the User’s Guide for assistance in submitting claims electronically.
System URL — https://trust.524gtrust.com
Of significance, the procedures for the following items are different from the Trust’s prior system. Each item is described in detail in the User’s Guide and if you need additional information, please contact the Trust.
- Filing Fees: A filing fee is required prior to a claim being eligible for review. To avoid a delay in processing, it is important to maintain sufficient filing fees in each Trust. Once you have submitted a claim, you will need to apply a filing fee to that claim under the filing fee tab. If you submit a claim without applying a filing fee, the status of the claim will be incomplete. A claim will receive a deficiency notice if a filing fee is not applied within seven days.
- Submitting claims: Each firm that anticipates using the Web based claims processing system will need to have a Law Firm Registration and a signed Electronic Filer Agreement on file for each Trust. You should have received both of these documents at the beginning of the month. If your firm has already returned both documents, you will receive an email with your user name and temporary password. The Trust only sets up the attorney and administrator for each Trust account. The administrator of each firm account will need to set up its own internal users. If your law firm did not receive the Law Firm Registration and the Electronic Filer Agreement, please let us know. If you have received those documents, but have not returned them to the Trust, please do so at your earliest convenience as it will delay your ability to submit claims through the Web based system.
- Offers and Releases: The new system has the ability for the approved release to be downloaded for each claimant when the claim has been approved and notice has been given to the firm. The last page of the release will include the list of the multipliers used to value the claim. If the injured party agrees to accept the offer, you will still be required to return the original signed release to each individual Trust.
New Web Based Claim System
Posted 05/13/2015
As you may have been previously notified, the Trusts have been working to develop a new claim processing system which will allow for Web based claim submissions. The new web based system is nearing its first completion date where the Trusts can begin accepting new claims and resubmission of current pending claims. The Trusts wanted to notify all filers of some important upcoming dates. If these dates change dramatically, you will be notified and the new dates will be posted on each Trust’s Web site.
Important Dates
June 22, 2015 is the last day the Trusts will be able to process claim offers, releases and payments in the current claim processing system. Please send all signed releases to each of the Trusts before this date. If, for some reason, releases are not received by this date, the releases will be processed in the new system which will mean an approximate six week delay.
June 26, 2015 is the last day you may submit new claims or resubmit claims through the existing site to the existing system. At 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Savings Time on Friday, the Trusts will close access to the existing claim processing system for all submitting firms. However, if you have a claim that has a potential statute of limitations issue, please submit your claim to the appropriate Trust in paper format to the following address:
Attn: Laura Paul
Claims Manager
300 East Second Street, Suite 1410
Reno, Nevada 89501
Please note that between June 26, 2015 and July 20, 2015 firms may submit paper claims if they so choose.
June 29, 2015 Prior to this date, the Trusts will send out firm reports which will include the status of all the claims submitted by your firm. Once you receive the reports, we ask that you immediately compare your firm report to your database and let us know if any claim is not accounted for within the report you receive.
July 13, 2015 the Trust staff will begin data entry on the Trust side of the new system. If your firm has not previously worked with and/or filed claims with a Web based system and is interested in training, please let us know. Once we begin to accept claims we will set up go-to-meetings for individual firm training.
July 20, 2015 is the day the Trusts plan to begin accepting new claims and resubmissions of pending claims in the new system.
August 2015 the Trusts are planning on making claim payments within the first few weeks of August for releases received after June 22, 2015.
The Trusts appreciate all your patience and assistance as we change our filing system. We believe and hope that the changes will allow each firm to view its claims online, as well as run reports concerning claims.
Please feel free to contact Laura Paul directly concerning claims, dates or any other concerns you may have with claim processing. The Trusts will continue to notify each firm as we get closer to July 20, 2015.
Modifications to Ships Repaired List
Posted 05/06/2015
Modifications to the Thorpe Insulation Ships Repaired List were approved at the April 16, 2015 Trustees’ meeting. The modified list has been posted on the Claims Page.
Annual Report
Posted 04/30/2015
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a hearing on the motion to approve Thorpe Insulation Settlement Trust’s Fifth Annual Report and Accounting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. before United States Bankruptcy Court Judge, the Honorable Sheri Bluebond, at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles Division, located at 255 East Temple Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 in Courtroom 1475.
Timing of Requests for Consideration at September 2015 Trustees’ Meeting
Posted 04/17/2015
Any requests for revisions to Trust policies or procedures, physician certification, modifications to an approved list, and/or TDP/Matrix interpretations or questions to be considered during the September 2015 Trustees’ meeting must be received by the Trust on or before Monday, August 10, 2015.
Compliance with Court Order
Posted 03/06/2015
The following notification was sent on this date to firms which submit, and may in the future submit, claims to the Trust.
On behalf of the Western Asbestos Settlement Trust, J.T. Thorpe Settlement Trust, Thorpe Insulation Settlement Trust, and the Plant Asbestos Settlement Trust (collectively “Trusts”), we are writing to all attorneys and firms who regularly submit, and may in the future submit, claims to these Trusts to request your cooperation with the Trusts’ ongoing effort to insure that only reliable evidence is provided in support of claims.
As you likely know from the Trusts’ websites, issues in litigation concerning Michael J. Mandelbrot and the Mandelbrot Law Firm were reduced to judgment in 2014. (See the attached copies of the Judgment and some of the related documents.)
In discharging Trust responsibilities to scrutinize all evidence for reliability, and in light of recent information that Mr. Mandelbrot has continued to be actively involved, we are asking that your firm confirm to the Trust that the evidence you are submitting is in compliance with the Court Order, and especially to inform the Trust if and, if so, where Mr. Mandelbrot has been involved in preparation of evidence submitted under oath or affirmation in support of claims. Most specifically, we are reviewing declaration and interrogatory evidence concerning exposure. If you have questions that you would like to discuss with the Trust, please email or call us. We are following up at this time informally to determine if further investigation and/or audits will be required.