News Desk May to August 2007

Thompsons Solicitors to raise money for Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA)

Staff at Thompsons Solicitors in Newcastle are pulling on their hiking boots to raise money for a national charity

Employment tribunal upholds worker’s claim for unfair dismissal by Swansea Council

Swansea Council has been criticised for a "cruel and deliberate attack" on one of its own workers in a row over a sickness dispute.

£45,000 compensation for Mason after ladder fall broke both feet

A council worker who broke both his feet after falling from an unsecured ladder has won compensation from Pembrokeshire County Council

Compensation for accidents at work for two Tesco employees

Tesco Stores Limited is having to defend its health and safety record as two employees sue for negligence

Mesothelioma, the UK’s third fastest increasing cancer

Renewed calls have been made for further funding from the Government for the treatment of asbestos related disease, mesothelioma

Former workers of a North East company, who were exposed to asbestos at work, are being denied thousands of pounds in compensation

The men, who worked for Cape Darlington Ltd, formerly known as Darlington Insulation Company Limited, have been awarded more than £200,000 in compensation after developing asbestos-related diseases caused through working for the firm.

Staff nurse at Broadmoor Hospital secures £21,500compensation

A staff nurse at Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, has secured £21,500 compensation following two assaults by a patient.

A man who was exposed to asbestos while working as steel erector has been compensated after developing an asbestos-related disease

Charles Walton, from Leeds developed disabling lung condition pleural thickening after being exposed to asbestos working for a contractor in power stations across the UK

Thompsons calls for increase in compensation for victims of asbestos cancer

Thompsons Solicitors has called on the Government to increase the amount of compensation for bereavement to the families of asbestos cancer victims in England & Wales.

Compensation for mesothelioma victim

A man who was exposed to asbestos while working for British Airport Authority (BAA) has been awarded £165,000 in compensation.

New corporate manslaughter law will play key role in reducing workplace deaths

The solicitor and family of Daniel Dennis, the 17 year old from South Wales who died in his first week at work when he fell through a skylight after being sent onto a roof with no prior safety training, today welcomed Royal Assent being given to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act.

Health and Safety issues at Nestle UK Limited as four employees secure compensation after developing tennis elbow

Nestle UK Ltd has paid compensation to four workers at the coffee making giant's site at Burton on Trent, Staffs, after each of them developed tennis elbow.

Jarvis PLC to pay £8,000 damages to railway shopman following

Jarvis PLC is to pay £8,000 damages to a railway shopman from York following an accident at the York depot.

Thompsons' top place in diversity survey

Thompsons has achieved a top six place in a ground breaking survey of national and international law firms’ records on diversity

Victim of mesothelioma receives £160,000 compensation

A roofer who worked with asbestos for over 20 years has been awarded over £160,000 in compensation.

Polisher from Leeds secures £6,500 compensation in deafness claim

Mr Alan Gosling, aged 39, from Leeds, brought his claim after realising that his hearing had become impaired. His claim was handled by leading personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors

Injured people reject government’s claims reforms

A survey of over 1,000 claimants by leading personal injury claimant law firm Thompsons shows overwhelming opposition to the government’s reform for the personal injury claims process

Out of sight, out of mind - woman shipyard worker sacked unfairly after developing arthritis

A 31-year old woman, who was sacked by her employer, A&P Falmouth, four years after being diagnosed with an arthritis type disability, has won her case for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal

Justice for families Affected by Asbestos

North West families are finally receiving compensation from a defunct asbestos company more than six years after their claims were first lodged.

NICE to make mesothelioma drug Alimta available on the NHS

People across the UK affected by asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma have welcomed a decision by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to make chemotherapy drug Alimta available on the NHS

Kent groundsman secures compensation after losing a limb in an accident

A Kent groundsman has secured compensation after losing a limb in an accident at work.

Mesothelioma victim's family calls for witnesses who worked at Stanton and Staveley

Lawyers acting for the family of a former fitter’s mate at Stanton and Staveley in Ilkeston are trying to trace his former co-workers following his tragic death from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma on 7th February 2005.

Two year platform leak an accident waiting to happen

Chiltern Railways have been forced to pay compensation of £10,000 after failing to mend a roof which had leaked for at least two years.

NEXUS loses its appeal to pay over £7,000 damages to injured metro train driver from Newcastle

An appeal at Newcastle Upon Tyne Law Courts has today ruled that NEXUS, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, should now pay the £7,300 damages it owes a metro train driver from Newcastle who was injured following the failure of an overhead line.

Driver secures damages following amputation of his trapped finger

An HGV driver employed by the London Borough of Harrow has been awarded compensation following an accident which left him with part of his finger amputated

Asbestos-Related Pleural Plaques Appeal in the House of Lords

A long-awaited appeal to the Law Lords to reinstate compensation for sufferers of asbestos related condition pleural plaques will be heard next week

The family of a former British Rail worker has won compensation following his death from an asbestos-related disease

Bill Bulled, 66, from Croydon, died from mesothelioma in November 2005, just a month after he married his second wife Elaine, and just a few months after he was diagnosed with the devastating disease

Site supervisor hit by unsafe cover moulding secures damages

A site supervisor for the London Borough of Newham has secured damages with the help of union GMB and Thompsons Solicitors after being hit by window moulding which had not been properly and safely fitted by 1st Saxon, a property servicing company

New Bill to assist mesothelioma victims

The Government has published a new Bill to assist mesothelioma victims in line with recommendations made by Thompsons Solicitor

UK Coal Ltd to pay £4,500 damages to County Durham worker who suffered fromnoise induced hearing loss

UK Coal Ltd is to pay £4,500 in damages to a man from County Durham who suffered noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) during a period of exposure with the firm RJB Mining – a company which UK Coal Ltd later took over

Gateshead case shows that employers can be held responsible for staff harassment

A building attendant who suffered from bullying and harassment at work has been awarded damages in an out of court settlement by his employer, Gateshead Council

Desperate bid to trace co-workers of tragic victim of asbestos

Lawyers acting for the widow of an apprentice electrician who died a tragic and painful death from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma are desperate to trace his co-workers.

Campaign to achieve justice for families affected by asbestos

A campaign to achieve justice for asbestos families in England and Wales has been backed by MPs.

Claimant scores victory in football injury case

UNISON and lawyers Thompsons have secured £42,500 for a the partner of a member whose leg was broken in two places by an illegal tackle during a Sunday league football match.

Cardiff man secures £15,000 compensation from Royal Mail following accident on the loading bay

Leading trade union Unite (Amicus section) has secured £15,000 in compensation from Royal Mail for a member who sustained multiple injuries and scarring following an accident on the loading bay

Child care worker awarded damages after Council failed to protect staff from attack

West Sussex County Council has been forced to pay damages to a senior child care officer after failing to protect her from physical and mental injury.

Unite members secure £1.2m compensation

Unite, Northern Ireland's largest Union, has secured £1.2 million for union members at Bombardier Shorts aircraft factories who continued to lose holiday pay after the firm changed the way it calculated holiday entitlement.

Former electrician's mate awarded compensation after developing mesothelioma

A former electrician’s mate who worked on the UK’s first nuclear submarine has been awarded a six-figure sum in compensation

Fabricator from Magna Kansei secures compensation as case settles

The damages were secured following an accident at work which left Mark Stewart with a ruptured knee ligament.

Justice for families affected by Asbestos

Thompsons Solicitors has secured compensation for the family of a Lancashire man who sadly died from asbestos-related mesothelioma.

Attack on Corporate Manslaughter wrecking attempt welcomed

Lawyers for the family of Daniel Dennis, a 17-year-old who died falling through a skylight in his first week of work, have welcomed an attack by Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, on attempts to scupper the Corporate Manslaughter Bill.

Scores of Northumbrian Water employees could be entitled to claim up to thousands of pounds each after a landmark High Court decision

The High Court in Newcastle demanded Northumbrian Water pay a former Hexham-based water inspector, more than £6,600 in compensation after his overtime was cut

MP David Miliband has stepped in to help a former shipyard worker gain access to a compensation award

South Tyneside MP David Miliband has stepped in to help a former shipyard worker gain access to a compensation award worth thousands of pounds

Increase in number of people who have died from mesothelioma

Shocking new statistics unveiled by the Health and Safety Executive show an increase in the number of people who have died from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma

Desperate bid to trace co-workers of tragic victim of asbestos

Lawyers acting for the widow of an instrument technician who died a tragic and painful death from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma are desperate to trace his co-workers.

Retired fitter from Humberside secures £4,000 in compensation for work-related hearing loss

Leading trade union Unite (Amicus section) has secured £4,000 in compensation for a member who suffered from noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) accumulated over many years.

Compensation from a defunct asbestos company

A North East family will finally receive compensation from a defunct asbestos company more than six years after their claim was settle

Lewisham Council employee secures £12,000 in damages following accident at work which has left him with a 'mechanical back'

A Lewisham Council employee has secured over £12,000 in damages following an accident at work which has left him with a 'mechanical back'. 

East Yorkshire woman secures compensation after anniversary cruise on the Queen Mary 2 turned into disaster

A woman from East Yorkshire has secured over £3,000 compensation after an anniversary cruise on the Queen Mary 2 turned into a nightmare.

Government humiliated over Legal Aid reforms

Thompsons Solicitors, which provides specialist criminal law services to trade unions and their members, welcomes the Constitutional Affairs Committee’s verdict on the proposed reforms to the Legal Aid system.