Asbestos Related Illnesses

A Cheltenham family has successfully sued BAE Systems after their father died as a result of being exposed to asbestos at a Gloucester factory.

William Evans of Charlton Kings, Cheltenham died earlier this year from mesothelioma, a cancer almost always caused by asbestos. Mr Evans had worked for A W Hawksley Ltd, a subsiary of BAE Systems Pensions Funds Investment Management.

The company accepted liability and made a settlement of £92,000 to Mr Evans’ two adult children.

The family’s solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall and one of the country’s leading specialists in asbestos-related law, said that many former workers in the building industry are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

“Mesothelioma can take up to 60 years to develop,” she said. “Asbestos was widely used in buildings after the war with workers often given little protection. As a consequence we are now seeing a rise in the number of people from the industry diagnosed with mesothelioma.”

Mr Evans worked for A W Hawksley in Hucclecote, Brockworth, Gloucester between 1947 – 1950. He worked in a large factory, manufacturing pre-fabricated houses in which asbestos was extensively used.

His job involved drilling into asbestos sheets. Mr Evans was given no warnings or protective clothing and wore ordinary cotton overalls which he took home to wash.

“These prefabricated houses were widely used as council houses at the time,” says Brigitte Chandler. “They are still in existence in some areas.”

In 2009 Mr Evans started to suffer health problems. The defendants accepted liability and that they had wrongly exposed Mr Evans to asbestos.

“Anybody who worked with asbestos in the past and is suffering from any sort of chest problem should seek medical advice,” says Brigitte Chandler.

A  recent Health and Safety Executive report predicts that the peak in the number of people expected to die from mesothelioma will be next year – five years earlier than expected.

Many people may develop other asbestos illnesses such as asbestosis or pleural thickening of the lungs.  Damages are payable for this and advice should be sought from a solicitor specialising in asbestos disease.

There is a regional charity that provides support and free advice to victims and families of asbestos sufferers. The Swindon and South West Asbestos Group can be contacted on 01793 813616 or info@asbestosgroup.co.uk, www.asbestosgroup.co.uk

An East Sussex woman whose husband died from exposure to asbestos has won substantial damages from a Twickenham building company.

Brenda Clark, of Battle, East Sussex has been awarded £160,000 after her husband, James, died from the asbestos-related disease in 2008.

Her solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall and one of the country’s leading specialists in asbestos-related law, said that many former workers in the building industry are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer almost always caused by asbestos.

“Mesothelioma can take between 40 – 60 years to develop,” she said. “Asbestos was widely used in buildings in the 1960s and 70s with workers often given little protection. As a consequence we are now seeing a rise in the number of people from the industry diagnosed with mesothelioma.”

Mr Clark worked for Anderson Construction Company in Richmond Road, Twickenham, initially as a ceiling fixer. He installed asbestos tiles at Victoria Underground Station, Standard Telephone Cables Company and at the Lister Hospital, Stevenage.

His work involved him drilling holes into the asbestos tiles. At the end of the day he was often covered in asbestos dust.

In 2007 he started to suffer from health problems and was diagnosed a year later at Conquest Hospital, Hastings as having mesothelioma.

Anderson Construction Company admitted liability.

“Anybody who worked with asbestos in the 60s and 70s and is suffering from any sort of chest problem should seek medical advice,” says Brigitte Chandler.

Many people may develop other asbestos illnesses such as asbestosis or pleural thickening of the lungs.  Damages are payable for this and advice should be sought from a solicitor specialising in asbestos disease.

Please contact Brigitte Chandler on 01793 511055 or brigitte.chandler@clmlaw.co.uk

A Bath woman is to receive £76,250 in damages from the Ministry of Defence after her father died as a result of asbestos exposure while working on board naval ships in Portsmouth.

Leslie Elwall, 85, died two years ago after developing mesothelioma as a direct result of his coming into contact with asbestos when he worked on board ships such as HMS Ark Royal, HMS Albion and others.

His daughter, Irene Morris, brought the compensation claim on her father’s behalf after his death.

The family’s solicitor, Brigitte Chandler, of Swindon law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall and one of the country’s leading specialists in asbestos law, explained that although Mr Elwall worked on naval ships he was still able to make a claim for compensation because he was a civilian.

“Unfortunately there is Crown immunity for members of the armed forces who are not allowed to bring claims for exposure to asbestos,” she said. “However Mr Elwall was a civilian which is why his daughter was able to make a claim on behalf of his estate.”

Mr Elwall joined the Ministry of Defence in Bath in 1947 to work as a draughtsman and technical officer. His job meant he had to live on board ships moored in Portsmouth for two to three weeks at a time. When he was on board, the ships were often being re-fitted which meant asbestos lagging on cylinders, boilers and pipes was exposed.

“Asbestos continued to be used on ships during the 40s, 50s and 60s, even though the Government was well aware of the dangers,” said Brigitte Chandler. “Many people have become ill as a result and the numbers dying from mesothelioma are expected to rise for a number of years.”

There is a regional charity to provide support for families and widows of asbestos sufferers in the South West. It can be contacted on: 01793 813616 or info@asbestosgroup.co.uk / Swindon & SouthWest Asbestosgroup Website.

Please contact Brigitte Chandler on 01793 511055 or brigitte.chandler@clmlaw.co.uk