East Sussex Woman Wins Damages After Husband Dies From Asbestos Exposure

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

: Mesothelioma

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