Our client, Mr R, contacted us following a biopsy which had confirmed the sad news that he was suffering with the terrible asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma. Having previously been extremely active in running his own business, Mr R was to be cruelly robbed of his well-earned retirement with his wife. We acted swiftly to obtain justice for the couple.
Passive Exposure to Asbestos with East Midlands Allied Press Limited
Mr R’s first job in 1968 involved working as an apprentice compositor for East Midlands Allied Press Limited on Bakers Lane, Woodston, Peterborough. The company was known as “EMAP” for short in those days and through diligent research, we identified that it traded under the name of Ascential Group Limited and obtained details of the relevant insurer at the time of Mr R’s exposure.
Mr R explained how in his role as an apprentice compositor he worked in all areas over the company site and was involved in various activities. He recalled working in a new three-storey building where work was being done to the internal offices. The work involved hammering 8 x 4 foot asbestos sheeting on to a 2-inch square timber framework. This asbestos sheeting material was regularly cut to size with a hand saw or table-top electric saws and debris and dust would fill the air. Because Mr R was working in close proximity to where this maintenance work was going on, he could not help but inhale the dust it produced. He described how the asbestos dust covered his workstation, drawing boards and desks and even in hair and clothes and he would have to wipe everything down periodically.
The maintenance team would also attend to the removal or re-fixing of asbestos tiles in the ceiling and sometimes this work would be completed right above Mr R resulting in asbestos dust raining down upon him. They would use a standard yard brush to sweep up the mess that they had created at the end of the working day, causing the dust to billow up into the atmosphere once again.
Whilst Mr R was not directly involved in cutting the asbestos materials, he suffered so called “passive” asbestos exposure when working next to others and breathed in the harmful fibres in unprotected conditions.
Private Treatment Costs Recovered
As part of Mr R’s claim, we obtained the expert opinion of a consultant oncologist who recommended Mr R undergo private medical treatment to help fight his mesothelioma.
The expert confirmed that Mr R was a suitable candidate for various treatments, some of which would not be available on the NHS, including certain types of immunotherapy treatment.
With the support of this expert, we ensured that Mr R’s settlement included provision for the payment of this much needed treatment on a private basis on top of his secured compensation figure of £268,500.00.
Mr R’s partner commented on conclusion of the claim how grateful she was for the considerable settlement plus her husband’s private medical costs. The couple were pleased with the personal and yet professional service provided to both her and her husband by our expert solicitor, James Cameron and his team.
If you require assistance in pursuing a mesothelioma claim, or believe you have a valid asbestos 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.