News Desk 2004

Thompsons urges staff to support ASH petition

The most experienced personal injury law firm in the UK has urged its staff to sign a petition calling on the government to end smoking in the workplace.

Asbestos tragedy for wife who washed husband's clothes

A Leicestershire woman is dying from cancer caused by inhaling asbestos dust on her husband's work clothes.

Centre Parcs take the blame

A 15 year old girl from Keighley has received £1,400 in compensation after scalding her hand with tea at the Centre Parcs, Sherwood Forest holiday complex.

Desperate bid to trace colleagues of tragic victim of asbestos

Lawyers acting for the family of scaffolder Peter John James of Sageston, Tenby who suffered a premature and painful death from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma are desperate to trace his former colleagues.

Asbestos warning for firefighters

The Fire Brigades union and union lawyers Thompsons are warning of an increase in the number of former firefighters in the West Midlands developing asbestos-related diseases.

Two new offices for two local services

Sir Stuart Bell, MP for Middlesbrough, yesterday officially opened both Thompsons Solicitors' new office and the GMB union's new office on Teesside.

Give us a break

A railway worker has won damages of over £3,000 in a case that strengthens workers' entitlement to rest breaks.

Insurers' second challenge on asbestos compensation

The High Court in Manchester will begin to hear 10 test cases on 8 November brought by the insurance industry in an attempt to reduce the amount of compensation it pays out each year to asbestos victims. The case is likely to last four days.

Thompsons condemns scaremongering on health and safety law

Leading health and safety lawyers have described claims that workplace health and safety laws will result in employees being personally liable for accidents as dangerous scaremongering.

Notts firm admits blame for death of worker

The widow of a man fatally electrocuted at a Nottinghamshire metal working plant has welcomed his employers finally admitting total blame for his death.

GMB calls for leader of Ealing to resign after council found guilty of racial discrimination

The GMB today called for the leader of the London Borough of Ealing, John Cudmore, to resign following a Court of Appeal decision awarded GMB member, Lakhbir Rihal £44,777 for the racial discrimination he suffered at the Council's hands. It also called on the Commission for Racial Equality to conduct an enquiry into the Council's housing department.

New Head of Employment Rights for top union law firm

Victoria Phillips has been appointed national Head of the Employment Rights Unit (ERU) at Thompsons Solicitors, the UK's leading trade union law firm.

Union lawyers slam claims firm cons

Trade union lawyers Thompsons and print union GPMU have attacked no win no fee personal injury claims management firms for conning people into agreements that can cost them more than the compensation they receive.

Miners urged to claim what is rightfully theirs - before it's too late

Hundreds of former miners and their families have been calling a helpline to register claims for respiratory diseases before next week's deadline.

Byers wrong on compensation culture

Thompsons Solicitors, the UK's leading personal injury and trade union law firm, today called on former cabinet minister Stephen Byers to turn his fire on NHS underfunding and on improving workplace health and safety rather than fuelling the myth of the so-called compensation culture.