Protesters at personal injury awards
The
personal injury awards were designed to celebrate excellence in a field which has received its fair share of negative press. Unfortunately for one of the nominated lawyers his recent work led to protests outside the venue.
David Pugh, partner in the Sheffield office of Halliwells was shortlisted for Defendant Lawyer of the Year for his work on behalf of insurers in the Rothwell case. The case led to a ruling by the Law Lords that pleural plaques, scars on the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos, did not constitute an injury for which compensation could be awarded.
This ruling angered many who had contact with asbestos, leading members of the GMD union to protest outside the Cafe Royal in London. The protesters who carried a coffin marked with a skull and cross bones designed to represent those who had died from asbestos poisoning, put a slight dampener on an event which was designed to award those who had fought for justice.Updated on 10/11/2008