Dying man wins substantial amount for asbestos disease
A dying man has received a substantial amount in compensation after suffering from an asbestos-related disease.
The 62 year old dock worker had been working for the Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority between 1972 and 1980 when he was exposed to asbestos on a daily basis.
His job role was to unload timber from the ships where asbestos was used to cover the pipe work. The unloading of the timber caused the asbestos fibres to become airborne.
As a result he suffered from a cancer of the lining of the lungs known as mesothelioma, an asbestos related disease.
He underwent chemotherapy treatment yet has a short time to live.
The man filed a no win no fee compensation claim stating that he had not been provided with adequate protection to prevent getting the disease.
However, the firm denied liability stating that the material had not been present on the ships.
Although he didn’t directly handle the substance, injury lawyers helped fight the case and presented evidence to the Court that the firm was liable for his disease as the substance was in fact present on the ships.
As a result, the man received a substantial sum in compensation after the Court stated that the man had been negligently exposed to the deadly substance.
Updated on 29/06/2009