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News Desk | News Story
15th February 2010
The 65-year-old member of the trade union Unite, from Exeter, died just a few months after he was diagnosed with the devastating disease.
There is no cure for mesothelioma, which is caused by exposure to asbestos.
He was exposed to the dust while working for Joseph Lucas Ltd, now known as Lucas Industries, from 1960 until the 1980s.
He started working for the Birmingham-based company as a craft apprentice before becoming a method engineer.
He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in August 2009. The DIY enthusiast hoped to continue working part time until his retirement but was forced to give up work as the disease took hold. Despite undergoing radical medical treatment in Germany he died in December 2009.
Following his diagnosis he contacted his union Unite which instructed asbestos claims specialists Thompsons Solicitors for advice.
Thompsons’ careful examination of his work history established that he had come into contact with asbestos when carrying out heat tests wearing asbestos gauntlets during the 1960s.
He said: “I used asbestos gloves to protect my hands when I was heating components to high temperatures. I never knew the risks of asbestos and was never given any warning or training.”
After his death his widow continued the claim for compensation. Thompsons successfully settled the claim out of court.
Laurence Faircloth from Unite said: “Sadly many of our members have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. This member and his widow received the union’s full support in claiming compensation when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. The union’s legal service has decades of experience of pursuing asbestos claims with the expertise that our members and their families can rely on to deal with tragic cases like this sensitively, efficiently and at no cost.”
Ginny Newman from Thompsons Solicitors said: “The shock of being diagnosed with mesothelioma means it can be difficult for some clients to recall exactly how they were exposed to asbestos, particularly as the events can have happened at work 40 or 50 years ago. This client was able to bring the details to mind as a result of our patient, detailed and careful examination of his work history. This evidence made all the difference to obtaining substantial compensation for his family and emphasises the importance of seeking specialist legal 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. 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.