John Pickering and Partners, Solicitors, work for victims of industrial disease such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, occupational asthma, vibration white finger, upper limb disorder, occupational stress, dermatitis, and noise induced deafness.
We work for victims of catastrophic injuries, particularly head injury and spinal injury, caused by road accidents or accidents at work. We work for victims of medical negligence, and have a special interest in cerebral palsy. Click the buttons on the left of this page for information and advice.
NEWS: UPDATE ON ASBESTOS TRIGGER ISSUE LITIGATION – THE FIGHT GOES ON
Please click here to see our previous article on this case.
As we reported in May a number of insurers have recently refused to pay compensation to mesothelioma victims by arguing that the “trigger” for the insurance policy to respond to such a claim is not the exposure to asbestos but the development of the disease itself. This argument strikes at the heart of traditional insurance industry practice, which, has always been for the insurer on cover at the time of exposure to pay.
read more (added 3 October 2008)
NEWS: Harry remained optimistic despite being poisoned by asbestos
The inquest into the death of Harry Sutcliffe (82) of Halifax concluded on 11, September 2008. The Coroner recorded a verdict of Industrial Disease. Harry had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in August 2003. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer nearly always caused by asbestos. He had worked for James H Heal & Co at Richmond Works, Boothtown from 1964 to 1976. The company made textile testing equipment. He worked as a lathe turner and progressed to a machine shop chargehand.
read more (added 3 October 2008)
NEWS: Government Compensation For Mesothelioma Victims
Lump sum payment from Government is extended to all those who suffer from mesothelioma and at the same time ends insurance companies windfall.
At last more mesothelioma sufferers will receive the long awaited lump sum payment from the Government. Last November, we told you about the bill in the Queen’s Speech, which would if passed allow this to happen. This bill has now become law. Click here to see previous article.
read more (added 30 September 2008)
NEWS: Ellen Paddock was 7 years old when she played in asbestos ash believing it was ‘snowflakes raining down from the sky’.
An inquest has held that Ellen Paddock had died accidentally after being exposed to falling asbestos ash when she was only 7 years old.
When the army depot at Donnington, Shropshire set alight in 1983 Ellen played in the resulting asbestos ash. She believed it was snowflakes raining down from the sky. Little could she have known at the time that this innocent fun would lead to her untimely death at the young age of 31. She was a mother of three young daughters.
read more (added 26 September 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma Claim- Successful trial at Liverpool District Registry
Earlier this year, Mr Hughes’ claim went to trial under the expedited procedure at Liverpool District Registry.
Mr Hughes sadly died a month after the trial. He was aged 64 and had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in March 2007.
He was employed by Oldham Brothers, a scrap metal merchants, for about 4 years between 1982/83 and 1986/87. He was based at Clarence Dock Power Station which had been defunct for some time and had been purchased by Oldham Brothers.
read more (added 19 September 2008)
NEWS: Asbestos Compensation Fact Sheet - Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are a number of different asbestos related illnesses. The conditions vary in severity from benign diseases that do not usually cause symptoms to malignant diseases. Click here for more information. You may be able to claim compensation if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis or pleural thickening.
read more (added 12 September 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma claims
Mesothelioma claims with specialist mesothelioma solicitors
If you have been told that you have mesothelioma, you may be able to claim compensation.
read more (added 12 September 2008)
NEWS: Successful compensation claim for asbestos related cancer- mesothelioma
Deadly asbestos brought home on husband’s clothes.
Details were taken about Mrs H’s previous employers as well as the nature of her late husband’s work. The late Mr H was a labourer for a large building contractor which is now known as Amec Building Limited. He worked there from the late 1940s until the mid 1970s. Mrs H used to wash her husband’s overalls each evening and was exposed to the dust and debris which was on them.
read more (added 22 August 2008)
NEWS: Government Lets Down Asbestos Victims
Asbestos claims are complex. The victims of asbestos related diseases have to overcome many hurdles to obtain compensation. One major obstacle is tracing the employer liability insurers at the time when individuals worked for their employer who negligently exposed them to asbestos.
read more (added 20 August 2008)
NEWS: Charity Day - Saturday, 20th September 2008
Background
The family of Bob Tolley who passed away from mesothelioma in September 2006 were successfully awarded compensation against Mr Tolley’s previous employer, Humphreys & Glasgow Ltd. A judgment was issued in the High Court on Thursday 12th June, for asbestos exposure which led to mesothelioma.
read more (added 19 August 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma Claim– Witness Request
We are acting on behalf of Sue Walsh (nee Chamberlain) who worked for Halton Borough Council in Widnes from approximately 1983 until 1985. She was employed as a community worker, and was engaged in liaising with tenants and with the tenants groups when improvement works were being undertaken on the Fairfield and the Bankfield Council Estates.
read more (added 24 July 2008)
NEWS: Government consultation on pleural plaques
In October 2007, the House of Lords ruled unanimously that plaques were no longer compensatable. A Government consultation into a House of Lords ruling on asbestos plaques is due to begin.
read more (added 11 July 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma UK Bulletin - July 2008
read more (added 9 July 2008)
NEWS: Lady develops asbestos cancer from standing at factory bus stop
Lesley Shirley developed mesothelioma last year from going into the factory yard to pick up her parents from work.
Mrs Shirley, aged 55, accepted a six figure sum as an out of Court settlement from Cape Asbestos whose premises she went to as a child in the 1950’s up until 1963/64.
read more (added 4 July 2008)
NEWS: Foreman Joiner's widow receives £112,500 for his early death due to killer disease
Tony, a self employed joiner and musician, died at the age of 63, 3 months after being diagnosed with the fatal asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma.
Tony spent the vast majority of his working life as a joiner in the Cheshire area working for local builders, in a self-employed capacity and for building companies
read more (added 27 June 2008)
NEWS: Pleural plaques client who later developed mesothelioma wins compensation
Our client was a fit, active man who enjoyed long walks in the countryside near to his home.
He told us that he had worked as a buyer for a large house building contractor. His employment spanned four decades and he regularly came into contact with asbestos until the mid to late 1970s.
read more (added 20 June 2008)
NEWS: Successful Mesothelioma Compensation Claim - Our Client v Balvac Ltd
We acted on behalf of “our client” who is a man of 64 from Liverpool. He previously worked for the Defendant as a gunnite specialist. His job involved carrying out high-powered cement spraying related duties on various contracts. His work brought him into close proximity with asbestos lagging.
read more (added 6 June 2008)
NEWS: Government to relax laws that protect industrial disease sufferers
The government has recently published their response to a consultation about relaxing laws relating to employer liability insurance. Click here for link to the full government response.
The government’s consultation sought views on how to reduce the “administrative burden” on employers in relation to the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations 1998. Amongst the Regulations are requirements for employers to retain insurance certificates for 40 years and to display the certificate at the place of work in a prominent manner. The government has announced that they plan to scrap these regulations.
read more (added 30 May 2008)
NEWS: Insurers sink to new low to deny compensation to asbestos victims
The latest attempt to get round the law and deny compensation to workers and their families affected by the deadly illness mesothelioma will be heard by the High Court on the 2nd June 2008.
read more (added 22 May 2008)
NEWS: Study reported in respected medical magazine ‘The Lancet’ says certain forms of chemotherapy do not improve treatment of mesothelioma
A study published in the latest edition of The Lancet has compared two of the different forms of chemotherapy which are available to those who have been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a tumour of the lining of the lung usually caused by a person’s exposure to asbestos during the course of their employment often decades before they are diagnosed.
read more (added 20 May 2008)
NEWS: British Lung Foundation
The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is a valuable UK charity that works hard to help those suffering from lung disease. There are 43 different lung conditions, each condition is different and affects the lungs in a different way. The BLF has helped fund research into each and every condition. A total of £18 million has been invested in this first-class research, but there is still more work that can be done.
read more (added 20 May 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma MARS trial
Mesothelioma UK update - Bulletin April 2008
read more (added 16 May 2008)
NEWS: Asbestos and the Law Conference- 10th June 2008
A legal conference is being held for lawyers who specialise in claims on behalf of asbestos disease sufferers. The conference brings together national and international experts to speak on a variety of legal issues concerning litigation claims on behalf of asbestos diseases victims.
The conference will be held on Tuesday 10th June 2008 at Merseyside Maritime Museum. For more details and a list of the full speakers see below.
read more (added 16 May 2008)
NEWS: A & P Falmouth Ltd
Our client was exposed to asbestos in the 1960s and 1970s working on ships in dry docks. Pipes and boilers were covered with asbestos lagging. He worked in the vicinity of laggers knocking off old asbestos lagging.
read more (added 16 May 2008)
NEWS: Successful claim - Our Client -v- Shell Tankers UK Ltd
Our client was in the Merchant Navy in the 1950s and early 1960s. He painted pipes lagged with asbestos. He swept dust off the pipes before painting them. Dust from the pipes got on his clothes and in his hair.
As a result of his exposure to asbestos he developed mesothelioma.
read more (added 2 May 2008)
NEWS: Successful claim against Spring Grove Laundry
Mrs S was exposed to asbestos at a laundry from 1954 to 1956. She worked in the office. Van drivers who collected overalls contaminated with asbestos dust came to her office to pay in money.
read more (added 2 May 2008)
NEWS: Pioneering international consultant dies of mesothelioma
Gerald Tyler, a multi award winning industrial Design Consultant, tragically died at the age of 60 in April 2004 of the asbestos related disease, mesothelioma.
read more (added 1 May 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma Claim – Witness Request
We are acting on behalf of the Widow of William Isaacs or “Bill” to his friends. He worked for a company called Thos. W. Ward Limited, in approximately 1962/3. During his time with this company he worked at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority site near Preston. Thos. W. Ward Limited were involved in construction and demolition work.
read more (added 1 May 2008)
NEWS: Successful clothing case for pub worker who developed mesothelioma
We successfully represented the husband of a lady who developed mesothelioma and died after exposure to asbestos from local factory workers.
She ran the White Horse public house in Harefield with her husband between 1978-1996. Workers from local Cape factories used the pub. They came into the pub after work still wearing their overalls and work clothes, which were heavily soiled with asbestos. Unknown to them, they were bringing asbestos fibres into the pub.
read more (added 25 April 2008)
NEWS: Thought for 2008
I am proud to come from and work in a city where people have such a strong sense of justice and morality about what is right and what is wrong in society.
My job involves acting for people who have asbestos diseases. In 2002 my firm was representing 2 clients in a test case about a type of cancer caused by asbestos called mesothelioma.
read more (added 24 April 2008)
NEWS: Asbestosis Claim – Witness Request
We are acting on behalf of the son of Thomas Sandford who worked for Foster Wheelers as a welders’ mate. He worked there between 1955-1961. He worked for Foster Wheelers at Fawley Oil Refinery on the construction of the cracker plant.
read more (added 11 April 2008)
NEWS: Clinical Negligence - M v Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust
The Claimant suffered injury to her hepatic ductal system following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy causing leakage of bile. When this was eventually recognised a further operation was performed to insert a T tube to allow the duct to heal. The tube however was removed too early causing a further bile leak and further surgery was required.
read more (added 11 April 2008)
NEWS: Call to Reform Coroner’s System For Families Of Mesothelioma Victims
The British Lung Foundation has called upon the government to improve the coroner’s system for families victims of the asbestos related cancer, mesothelioma.
read more (added 3 April 2008)
NEWS: Compensation for Sufferers of Asbestos Related Pleural Plaques?
Hope has emerged for thousands of workers who have asbestos related pleural plaques. It has been reported that Government Ministers are attempting to negotiate a deal whereby insurers will pay up to £5000 to people with asbestos related pleural plaques.
read more (added 27 March 2008)
NEWS: Popcorn worker’s lung found in British food factory worker
A recent report in the medical journal, Thorax, has found that a 36 year old factory worker in the UK has developed a chronic lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans or constrictive bronchiolitis.
read more (added 25 March 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma Help at Royal Oldham Hospital
Dr Cook from the Royal Oldham Hospital announced that their hospital has invested in new equipment to help with pain relief for sufferers of the asbestos related disease mesothelioma.
Known as a cordotomy, the technique is aimed at those in extreme pain where strong drugs such as morphine are ineffective.
read more (added 25 March 2008)
NEWS: Asthma
In Britain, almost 3 million people have asthma. Many are children. Asthma can be mild, with only occasional troublesome symptoms, or it can be severe, requiring repeated hospital treatment.
read more (added 29 February 2008)
NEWS: Occupational asthma
Occupational asthma is asthma caused by something breathed in at work.
The 8 most common causes of occupational asthma and the common jobs where people are at risk from these substances are -
Isocyanates - spray painters, metal or electrical processors, vehicle manufacture and mechanics, plastics/foam workers.
read more (added 29 February 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer nearly always caused by asbestos. It is usually a tumour of the pleura, which is the lining between your lung and your rib cage, but it can sometimes affect your peritoneum, the lining between your bowel and the cavity of your abdomen. On rare occasions, it may affect other parts of the body. New drugs are being developed and tested in clinical trials. New surgery techniques are being used, combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, but this work is in its early stages. Specialist doctors or nurses can control pain successfully. They are called palliative care experts. Macmillan nurses are highly trained in the management of this illness.
read more (added 29 February 2008)
NEWS: Professional Negligence
Do you believe that you have been let down by your legal advisors in a recent compensation claim for asbestos related disease or another form of personal injury?
read more (added 22 February 2008)
NEWS: Mesothelioma Risk in Schools
On Friday 15th February ITN News reported on the discovery of asbestos in System built schools.
Of the 26,000 schools in the UK approximately half are System built.
The schools were typically built between 1945 and 1980.
read more (added 22 February 2008)
NEWS: Claiming compensation for occupational cancers
The shock and upset of being diagnosed with cancer can result in the investigation as to the cause of the cancer being overlooked whilst treatment is pursued.
read more (added 9 February 2008)
NEWS: Dockworkers Asbestos Test Case: Rice and Thompson v Secretary of State for Trade & Industry and Stuntbrand Line Ltd
In this article Neil Fisher of John Pickering and Partners LLP discusses the first instance and Court of Appeal decisions in Rice & Thompson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry arising out of the Dock Labour Scheme.
read more (added 28 January 2008)
NEWS: Legal Award for Specialist Asbestos Law Firm
 John Pickering and Partners LLP have received an award of Specialist law Firm of the Year 2007 from Liverpool Law Society at an event to celebrate legal excellence in the Liverpool law community.
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