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Mesothelioma Widow Recovers Compensation
Having watched his work colleague die from mesothelioma, Charles Reed, ‘Spud’, to his friends feared the worst when he developed breathlessness. Almost 60 and ready to slow down his work as a plumber, he avoided going to the doctor initially but by May 2008, the symptoms had got so bad that he ended up being admitted to Carlisle Infirmary and then the Freeman hospital in Newcastle. The biopsy taken and fluid indicated that he had mesothelioma like his work colleague. Spud knew where he had got his mesothelioma from. It was when working as an apprentice plumber for Robert Bateys of Lowther Street in Carlisle where he had heavy exposure to asbestos dust whilst pulling off boiler and pipe lagging and re-applying it. Although we were able to obtain statements from his colleagues’ solicitors, unfortunately, the insurance information had been lost regarding Bateys which had long since gone out of business. Further investigation indicated that it wasn’t only at Bateys that Mr Reed had had exposure to asbestos but he had also had exposure at George Thompsons although to a lesser extent. Nevertheless, it meant that we could recover 100% of Mr Reed’s compensation from George Thompsons and get George Thompsons to locate the insurers for Bateys. Following Court proceedings being issued, Mr Reed gave evidence by video at his home with regard to his exposure to asbestos dust. By this time, Mr Reed was too ill to travel. Following Mr Reed giving evidence, the matter was fixed for trial in May 2009. Unfortunately, he died prior to the trial date but settlement was reached on behalf of his widow. Ruth Davies, Partner at the Halifax Office who handled the claim said: It is often the case that clients do not recollect any exposure to asbestos dust or as in this case where they forget that they have had exposure to asbestos dust at more than one place. We only need one employer who has made a significant contribution to be able to recover 100% of a person’s compensation. Mrs Reed said: “Just to say thank you so much for everything you have done. Spud had every faith in you and you didn’t fail him. He would have been a very happy man. Thanks again our love Ann and Spud’s family”. Ruth Davies Tele: 01422 345535 Notes John Pickering and Partners LLP- Specialist mesothelioma compensation solicitors We are a specialist personal injury law firm. We have been handling claims for industrial disease for over 30 years. Most of our work involves acting for asbestos disease victims. We only act for the sufferers of asbestos diseases and never act for the organisations that caused the asbestos exposure or their insurers. We have an ethical approach and pledge to donate 10% of our net profits every year to good causes that help asbestos sufferers. Click here to find out about our donations to good causes. We have also been involved in most of the landmark judgments that shape this area of law. Find out more about us or find out about our reported cases. We are on the panels of several asbestos support groups and are ranked highly by legal guides. Click here to find out more about what others have said about us. John Pickering and Partners LLP is a niche legal practice that has represented Claimants in the leading asbestos "test cases" in the last ten years. The firm represented Sylvia Barker in Barker v Corus (UK) Plc, a case that highlighted the legal tactics of employers and insurers trying to cut back their compensation liabilities to mesothelioma sufferers, and which prompted the amendment of the Compensation Act 2006 to ensure full compensation for mesothelioma claims. The firm represented two of the three Claimants in the Fairchild appeal, in which the insurance industry tried unsuccessfully to block compensation altogether for mesothelioma sufferers unable to identify which of two or more sources of asbestos exposure had caused their illness. The firm represented Alice Jefferson, a mesothelioma sufferer, whose illness and compensation claim against Cape Asbestos were featured in the important documentary "Alice: A Fight For Life." Shown by Yorkshire Television in July 1982, the programme was an important catalyst for legal change and public awareness of the plight of mesothelioma and other asbestos disease sufferers and a prompt for important legal reform. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of certain bodily organs. It most commonly affects the lining of the lungs (the pleura) but it can affect other areas including organs in the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum). According to the British Lung Foundation, more than 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the UK and there is one mesothelioma death every five hours. The number of deaths from mesothelioma increased from 153 in 1968 to 1,969 in 2004 and is expected to peak at 2,450 between 2011 and 2015. The British Lung Foundation, supported by John Pickering and Partners LLP, launched the first Action Mesothelioma Day on 27th February 2006, to raise awareness about mesothelioma, to improve the treatment and care of mesothelioma patients, and to lobby for better funding for research into mesothelioma and for the protection and education of people working with asbestos. If you need advice about an asbestos related illness, contact us now for information about making a claim for compensation.
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