Union makes plans to take fight to Supreme Court
The workers’ union Unite has recently made a statement confirming its plans to challenge in the Supreme Court a recent ruling threatening to deprive rightful compensation from cancer victims whose diseases have been traced to asbestos.
The Court of Appeal has recently made a ruling which means that in many asbestos-related cases, employers will owe liability insurance not when workers are first exposed to asbestos, but when the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma first begins to develop; however, the symptoms typically begin to develop only after extended exposure to asbestos.
Because of this, many workers who have been exposed to asbestos may be unable to claim the compensation they deserve.
The union’s joint general secretary has stated: “The way the insurers refused to pay out in these cases is a kick in the guts to every family that’s watched a loved one suffer a painful and degrading death from mesothelioma.
“Insurers sold their policies knowing that employers and workers' families would rely on them. Now they’re trying to weasel out of paying based on fancy legal argument and policy small print.”
“Unite will put its full weight behind this appeal. We will pursue it because we want to see justice done for innocent victims and their families.”
Source: http://www.postonline.co.uk/post/news/1866100/union-challenge-el-trigger-litigation-ruling-supreme-court
Updated on 11/22/2010