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News Desk | News Story
26th January 2011
Union asbestos campaigner helps hospice obtain compensation
Died from Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The family of a North East asbestos campaigner who died from asbestos related cancer has been successful in claiming compensation on behalf of the hospice which cared for him during his final weeks.Alan Clark was 59 when he died from peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the stomach caused by exposure to asbestos.
He passed away in August 2009 at Hartlepool and District Hospice just a few months after he was first diagnosed with the disease.
Alan left behind his wife Stella, three daughters and a grandson. He was exposed to asbestos while working as a lagger on various industrial sites in Teesside and elsewhere in the UK. His father, who also worked with asbestos, also died from mesothelioma 14 years ago.
Thompsons Solicitors made claim for compensation
Before his death he instructed asbestos claims specialists Thompsons Solicitors with the support of his union GMB. He wanted to make sure his family were financially secure but also to make a claim on behalf of the Hartlepool and District Hospice where he had received care during the advanced stage of his illness.
Following his death Stella continued the claim. Thompsons was successful in settling the claim out of court obtaining substantial damages for Stella from Alan’s former employers Spousal Midland Limited and Cape Darlington Limited. In addition they recovered £13,600 for Hartlepool and District Hospice in the claim against the employers.
Stella said: “The hospice took wonderful care of Alan during his final weeks. He had one to one care and everything he needed was on hand straight away. I was able to visit for as long as I wanted, even late at night. During those difficult days it was those little things that made such a big difference.
“Alan was determined to claim compensation on behalf of the hospice. They helped make his final days easier and he felt strongly that his former employers should pay towards the treatment. He would have been delighted with this settlement.”
Many hospice patients have become ill as a result of exposure to asbestos
Tracy Woodall, chief executive of the Hartlepool and District Hospice said: “The hospice exists to improve the lives of people affected by life limiting illness. Unfortunately we see many patients who have become ill as a result of exposure to asbestos. We hope that we can provide them with a calm and caring environment during the times they stay with us.
“It costs us £2.8m a year to maintain our services and only 20% of these costs are met by the government. As a result we rely on donations to continue our care. This compensation will help us to continue to provide unique and much needed services to the people of Hartlepool and East Durham.”
Tom Brennan, GMB union Regional Secretary, said: “This has been an understandably difficult time for Alan’s family. Alan was a tremendous advocate for the GMB and our members. Perhaps a fitting testament and legacy to him is that his wife, Stella, was able to continue the fight and we were able to obtain a vital settlement which will help others suffering from this terrible disease.
“In my view industrial disease is not an accident. It’s a scandal of companies showing absolutely no moral or social responsibility. The GMB’s role is to fight such employers in using the full force of the law and where the law is inadequate to seek to change it. That has been our position with asbestos related diseases and will remain to be so.“
Ian McFall head of asbestos policy at Thompsons Solicitors added: “This case highlights a developing area of law which mesothelioma sufferers and their families can use when claiming compensation to help the hospice which provided care. Hospices offer valuable comfort and support to people, often during their last days. However, they are reliant on the community for funds. It can make a real difference to the hospice to recover the cost of the care from the employer responsible for causing the patient’s illness.”
Mesothelioma Compensation Claim Advice
If you or someone you know has developed mesothelioma or any other asbestos related disease, telephone us now for accurate and free compensation claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters and have teams of specialist mesothelioma solicitors / lawyers. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for mesothelioma compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
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