At Asbestos Justice we are delighted to advise that we have recently succeeded in a complex mesothelioma claim for Mrs L who sadly lost her husband to the incurable asbestos-related cancer back in April 2021, before we were instructed.
As a result, we needed to speak to a former colleague of Mr L’s who could remember them both working on jobs which involved the demolition of various properties for F Hardwick (Demolition) Limited, Leeds during the late 1980s to early 1990s, where asbestos was prevalent.
Initial Denial
Initially, the Defendant solicitors refused to accept that Mr L would have been exposed to harmful amounts of asbestos dust at such a late stage, arguing that by then, precautions will have been taken by the company and the client occupier to keep the demolition workers safe.
However, the Defendant’s assertion was based on supposition, without any evidence or disclosure documentation being submitted in support of their argument. Also, it was clear that Mr L had only ever been exposed to asbestos dust when working for F Hardwick on various demolition projects in Yorkshire including at Bradford Airport, Newark Railway Station and Stalybridge Town Hall in Leeds.
Additional Evidence
We argued against the Defendant company’s initial denial of liability and were able to trace further witness evidence from another successful asbestos claim we dealt with for another client, which showed that the company had exposed workers to asbestos dust for a large part of the 1980s, without any precautions being taken in the form of tenting facilities, boiler suits, gloves and masks for demolition workers to wear.
This is a tactic we often employ in asbestos claims which are contested, in order to further support our clients’ claims for asbestos disease compensation.
Case Success
The Defendant solicitors eventually backed down from their initial stance and put forward a sizeable offer of compensation to Mrs L following the sad loss of her husband, whom she cared for over the course of his period of suffering with his mesothelioma.
The case shows that even where witness evidence cannot be obtained from the person affected by mesothelioma, it is still possible to win a legal claim with the aid of witness statements from other employees who worked for the same company.
Mrs L said of her experience in dealing with Asbestos Justice to pursue her claim:
“Asbestos Justice (Oliver & Co Solicitors) handled my case with such compassion form me and were ultra professional at all times, but determined to get justice for my husband. My solicitor, James Cameron, kept me in the loop at all times as to the progress of the case and I cannot thank him and his team enough for all they’ve achieved on my behalf, they deserve more than a 5-star rating.”
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.