Litton Industries — Corporate Overview

Litton Industries, Inc. (1953-2001) was a diversified U.S. defense conglomerate headquartered in Beverly Hills CA (and later Woodland Hills CA), founded by Charles “Tex” Thornton on the base of Litton Engineering Laboratories. Through the asbestos era, Litton grew through aggressive acquisition into an approximately $6 billion Fortune 100 defense contractor with major operating groups in shipbuilding, marine electronics, defense electronics, information systems, industrial systems, and advanced-electronic components. Litton was acquired by Northrop Grumman in April 2001 and integrated into Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.

Litton’s largest asbestos-era premises footprint was its Ingalls Shipbuilding subsidiary in Pascagoula MS, acquired in 1961 and built into one of the two largest U.S. Navy surface combatant yards. Ingalls Pascagoula built Spruance-class destroyers (DD-963 series), Kidd-class destroyers (DDG-993 series), Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruisers (CG-47 series), Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDG-51 series), Wasp-class amphibious assault ships (LHD-1 series), San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks (LPD-17 series), and National Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard. Other Litton operating units through the asbestos era included Litton Systems (defense electronics — Woodland Hills CA, College Park MD, Salt Lake City UT), Litton Guidance & Control Systems (Woodland Hills CA), Litton Industrial Automation (Florence KY, Waynesboro PA), and Litton Advanced Circuitry (Springfield MO).

Documented ACM Footprint

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Litton Industries — and its Ingalls Shipbuilding, Litton Systems, Litton Guidance & Control, and Litton Industrial Automation subsidiaries — exposed the workforce to asbestos through the following documented pathways:

  • Shipbuilding — Ingalls Pascagoula MS: allegedly asbestos-cement Marinite / Aeroflex marine bulkhead and joiner panels, allegedly Kaylo pipe insulation on shipboard steam mains and auxiliaries, allegedly asbestos-fabric turbine and boiler lagging, allegedly asbestos sheet gaskets at flanges and machinery joints, and allegedly asbestos rope packing on shipboard pumps and valves throughout Spruance / Kidd / Ticonderoga / Burke / Wasp / San Antonio hull construction, outfitting, and machinery installation
  • Defense electronics assembly: allegedly asbestos-fabric arc chute plates in defense-electronics test-cell control cabinets, asbestos wire insulation braid, and asbestos millboard around radar and inertial-guidance component test benches
  • Industrial systems plants: allegedly asbestos pipe covering on plant steam mains, asbestos-block lagging on heat-treat furnaces, asbestos sheet gaskets on process piping, and asbestos rope packing on plant pumps and valves at Litton Industrial Automation machine-tool and materials-handling plants
  • Powerhouse and utilities: allegedly asbestos-block lagging on Ingalls Pascagoula powerhouse boilers and steam distribution manifolds
  • Structural fireproofing: allegedly asbestos sprayed fireproofing on multi-story Ingalls fabrication buildings and Litton Systems Woodland Hills CA electronics plant structural steel

Workers Allegedly Exposed

Plaintiffs allegedly worked at Litton Industries and Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula MS, Litton Systems Woodland Hills CA and College Park MD, Litton Guidance & Control Woodland Hills CA, Litton Industrial Automation Florence KY and Waynesboro PA, and Litton Advanced Circuitry Springfield MO in trades including:

  • Shipyard insulators (HFIAW) applying and removing asbestos block, pipe covering, and marine panel materials on Ingalls Pascagoula hulls
  • Shipyard pipefitters (UA) breaking asbestos-gasketed flanges on shipboard steam and auxiliary piping
  • Shipyard boilermakers, welders, and shipfitters (Boilermakers, IBB / SMART) on Ingalls Pascagoula shipbuilding ways and outfitting docks
  • Shipyard machinists installing turbines, pumps, and gear reducers with asbestos-lagged casings
  • Shipyard electricians (IBEW) working on asbestos arc chutes in shipboard switchgear
  • Defense-electronics assemblers and technicians at Litton Systems Woodland Hills CA
  • Machine-tool assemblers and industrial-automation technicians at Litton Industrial Automation plants
  • U.S. Navy sailors serving aboard Litton-built Spruance / Kidd / Ticonderoga / Burke / Wasp / San Antonio warships

If You Worked at Litton Industries or Ingalls Shipbuilding

If you or a family member worked at Litton Industries — including Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula MS, Litton Systems in California or Maryland, Litton Industrial Automation, or any other Litton or Northrop Grumman-successor facility — during the asbestos era and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim. U.S. Navy veterans who served aboard Litton-built warships may also have claims.

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

Plants by State

Litton Industries and its Ingalls Shipbuilding subsidiary operated across multiple U.S. states. Detailed premises information is available on the following state jobsite pages: