At Asbestos Justice, we are delighted to report that we have been successful in recovering a high sum of mesothelioma compensation for our client, Mr F, who was diagnosed with the incurable asbestos related cancer at the end of 2023. As Mr F was a widower, this case was extremely urgent as it was important to win his claim during his lifetime, otherwise, the value of his claim would have decreased significantly following his death. It was also vital to ensure that Mr F had available compensation funds to assist him over the course of his period of suffering with this cruel disease.
Shipbuilding Work
We obtained a detailed witness statement in support of the mesothelioma claim from Mr F who had an excellent memory, despite his advanced years. He described how he came into regular contact with harmful amounts of airborne asbestos dust during the course of his 5-year apprenticeship with William Gray & Company Limited, based at their Gray’s Shipyard in Hartlepool. He worked for the company between 1952 and 1957.
Mr F explained that there was a vast amount of asbestos lagging materials present around heating pipes and boilers on the ships he worked on, two of which were known to him as the Irish Ash and the Irish Maple, which were believed to be Leranus Maritime Ships.
He described lagging materials as being a greyish to whitish colouration which measured around 1 inch to 2 inches in thickness around pipes of various sizes. The pipes could be as small as one inch in diameter up to 3 feet in diameter depending on the type of pipe.
Heavy Asbestos Dust Exposure
In order to attend to any leaks to the pipe or repairs to the gaskets or flanges, Mr F would need to chip away at the old asbestos lagging material which had set into place and looked similar to papier-mâché. He also remembered this being a very fibrous material to touch. He used various tools including chisels and hammers to chip away at the asbestos lagging to remove this in order to reach the source of the issue with the pipe or section of the boiler.
As he chipped away at the asbestos lagging to attend to the necessary repairs, large clouds of asbestos dust would billow up into his working environment which he inhaled without any breathing protection being provided, which was relied upon as further proof of negligence in this mesothelioma claim. The asbestos dust covered his work clothes, hair and skin and the air would be thick with the material at times.
Further exposure at Steelworks
Mr F suffered further exposure to asbestos dust in unprotected conditions when working as a fitter for South Durham Steel Iron Co Limited, which eventually formed part of British Steel, now known as Tata Steel UK Limited, from around 1967 through to 1972 approximately at their Hartlepool works.
Once again, Mr F remembered seeing the same, thick, greyish to white coloured old asbestos lagging around the pipework at the steelworks, some of which was held into place with chicken wire. As part of his job as fitter, he would regularly have to attend to repairs and maintenance on all lagged pipework. Once again, he would need to make use of various tools including chisels and hammers to chip away at the asbestos lagging in order to reach any areas which required to be maintained and he breathed in the deadly dust once again, without ever being provided with warnings of the dangers involved or a mask.
Medical Evidence Supported the Claim
We obtained medical evidence in support of the successful mesothelioma claim from a well-regarded respiratory consultant who noted that Mr F’s condition was confirmed with the aid of a pleural biopsy on the 12th December 2023. He was of the view that the asbestos dust exposure suffered by Mr F at the hands of his former employers, significantly increased the risk that he would develop mesothelioma, supporting what is known in law as “medical causation”.
Significant Mesothelioma Compensation Recovered
Over £150,000.00 in mesothelioma compensation was recovered for Mr F within 5 months of receiving initial contact from him, preserving his “lost years” claim which would have been extinguished had he passed away before the claim had succeeded.
This case shows how important it is to advance living mesothelioma claims with speed and professionalism, to maximise the level of compensation that can be recovered for a sufferer, ensuring they have access to much needed funds to assist them over the course of their period of suffering.
If you require assistance in pursuing a mesothelioma claim, or believe you have a valid claim for any other asbestos disease, then please contact us today on our freephone number 0800 038 6767. Alternatively, head over to the ‘Contact Us’ page, complete the form and we will be in touch.