News Desk September to December 2009

Construction worker buried in cement

A construction worker who was buried alive in cement has received a substantial sum in compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors.

Police rescind caution after unlawful arrest

A photographer who was handcuffed, arrested and detained for eight hours for trying to take pictures, has had his police record torn up after help from his union.

Safety measures introduced after trucker fell to his death

Mansel Bell, 64, from Alston in Cumbria died as a result of his injuries a few months after suffering severe brain damage in the fall at his workplace, Turners (Soham) Ltd.

Train worker’s agonising wait after needle injury

An RMT member who had a horrendous three month wait for the results of blood tests for HIV after he was injured by a dirty needle has received £8,500 in compensation.

Baker wins £17,500 in compensation

A bakery worker has received £17,500 in compensation after he fell from an unsafe ladder at work.

Widow’s search for husband’s former colleagues

The widow of a Kent man who believes he was exposed to asbestos while working at a cable firm is calling for his former work colleagues to come forward.

Cancer sufferer compensated for unnecessary organ removal

A cancer sufferer who had her bladder and reproductive organs removed unnecessarily has been awarded a six figure sum in a ground-breaking judgement which ruled she should have told about alternative treatments

Brave pensioner injured by hooded robbers

A motorway service station worker who stood up to hooded thieves has received £36,000 in compensation for the injuries she received. Her case was funded by her trade union membership of GMB

Welsh family statement on verdict on PC Hart

Read by Diane Davison from Thompsons Solicitors

Thompsons tops law firm diversity league

Thompsons Solicitors has topped the league in the annual Black Solicitors Network survey of national and international law firm’s records on diversity.

Widow receives £100,000 compensation for husband’s death

The widow of a steel worker has received £100,000 compensation after he died from mesothelioma.

£800,000 for firefighter who lost his leg

A firefighter who had to have his lower leg amputated after he was knocked off his motorbike has received £800,000 in compensation.

Young mother’s family searches for asbestos witnesses

The family of a young mother who died from asbestos related disease mesothelioma is searching for more information about where she was exposed to the deadly dust.

Builder secures damages for loss of finger

Albert Hardy, 58, from Chesterfield has been forced to change trades after his index finger on his left hand was amputated following the accident while working for a building firm in Belper.

Union secures nine times more compensation for member

A GMB member who was advised to accept just £1,250 in damages after a car accident has received almost nine times the amount in compensation after help from her trade union.

Widow receives £107,000 for husband’s death

The widow of an engineer has received £107,000 compensation after he died from mesothelioma.

Tate & Lyle compensate worker with asbestos disease

A sugar factory worker has received £12,000 in provisional settlement of a compensation claim for asbestos related disease.

Compensation for welder with disabled hands

The Unite member from Wolverhampton was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) after he found he was unable to use his hands properly.

Paramedic disabled during emergency call-out receives compensation

Michael Kirkham, has had to take early retirement since his bulky work equipment caught on a door handle in March 2003.

Family receives compensation for plumber’s death from mesothelioma

The father of one from Barrow in Furness died just 17 days after being admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties. Following his death a post mortem revealed he suffered from mesothelioma, the cancer of the lining of the lungs.

Police driver left with car phobia after accident

A civilian police driver who was forced to give up his lifelong career when he was involved in a car accident has received £90,000 in compensation.

Factory worker receives £100,000 for permanent eye damage

A factory worker has received £100,000 in compensation after being left with permanent eye damage when a corrosive chemical dripped onto his face.

Constant lifting causes back injury

A GMB member who was forced to continue lifting heavy objects after he damaged his back has received £13,500 in compensation.

Ruling paves the way for train drivers’ claims

A ground-breaking judgment by the Swansea County Court has paved the way for train drivers across Britain to claim compensation for an industrial injury that leaves their hands permanently disabled.

Injured electrician is forced to change career

An electrician who has been forced to change his career after he was left disabled following a workplace accident has received £50,000 in compensation.

Asthma sufferer wins fight over council's toxic cleaning system

A hospital worker has received compensation after a council exposed him to a toxic cleaning substance for more than a year, which seriously aggravated his asthma

Asbestos sufferers and families invited to support group

The Dave Willcocks Asbestos Victims Support Group based in Crewe is inviting those who suffer from asbestos related disease and their families across Stoke, Staffordshire and South Cheshire area to attend the meeting at the Macmillan Centre in Leighton Hospital, Crewe.

Family wins seven figure sum in compensation

Rhiannon Pridmore, aged seven, from Swansea, suffered severe brain damage during her birth at the city’s Singleton Hospital after the umbilical cord became trapped around her neck

Whistleblower awarded six figure damages after being hounded out of job

An equalities officer, who was harassed and sacked for blowing the whistle on management, has been awarded £442,466 in compensation for loss of earnings, with help from UNISON.

Worker compensated for fall

A GMB member who fell down a flight of stairs after warning his employers how dangerous they were has received more than £9,000 compensation.

Ex-power station worker compensated for hand injuries

A retired power station worker has received £15,000 in an out of court settlement after his hands were left permanently damaged by using vibrating tools at work

Brain injury charity launches in Wearside

A national brain injuries charity is launching its first group in Wearside on Tuesday, November 24th

Legal aid cut would jail innocent public servants

Victims of baseless criminal allegations at work would find it far more difficult to clear their names under proposed cutbacks to legal aid.

Mesothelioma sufferer receives £115,000 compensation

Kenneth Abrey, 71, from Hampton in Middlesex was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a fatal cancer of the lung lining, in January 2007.

Family receives compensation for asbestos disease from T&N Trust

The family of a grandmother who died from an asbestos related disease has received compensation from a Trust fund set up by her former employers

College lecturer compensated for deafness

Malcolm Hipkin, 65, from Gateshead received damages after he was diagnosed with noise-induced deafness and tinnitus

UNISON wins compensation for hospital worker injured in lift

UNISON, the UK's leading public sector trade union, has won £7,000 compensation for a member whose hand got stuck when she was moving cages full of linen out of a hospital lift.

Bullying pushed probation officer out of job

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector union, is again calling on employers to root out the workplace bullies, as part of its Bully Busters campaign.

Machinist compensated for deafness

A Unite the Union member who suffered long term hearing loss after being exposed to excessive noise at work has received a substantial sum in compensation.

Army Captain receives£150,000 after car crash

Thompsons Solicitors has won £150,000 in compensation for an army officer who was seriously injured in a car crash within hours of returning from Iraq

School assistant suffers slipped disc in lifting accident

A school assistant has received a substantial sum in compensation after she suffered a slipped disc while lifting heavy objects at work

Worker receives compensation for industrial asthma

The 42-year-old from the Gateshead area was diagnosed with occupational asthma after she was exposed to soldering fumes at Turbo Power Systems Limited, based in Team Valley.

£412,500 for patient infected with MRSA

The 62-year-old from Middlesex now has no left hip joint and has lost 3 and a half inches in height after he caught the infection while he was being treated by Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Mesothelioma sufferer receives £160,000 in compensation

A joiner who was exposed to asbestos while working in the building trade has received £160,000 compensation after being diagnosed with cancer.

Lorry driver compensated for severe back injuries

A lorry driver who needed surgery after he suffered two slipped discs during a workplace accident has received a significant sum in compensation.

Compensation for mum with serious head injury

A new mum who suffered severe headaches two years after being concussed when she was hit on the head by faulty equipment at work has received a significant sum in compensation.

Council pays damages after ignoring safety risk

A council who ignored complaints from staff about a health and safety risk has paid £10,250 in compensation after an employee damaged her back.

£350,000 for drayman in horrific accident

A Unite the union member has received £350,000 in compensation after his leg was crushed by a delivery lorry which ran over him twice.

Welder compensated for hearing loss

John Walton, 46, from Penrith has received £12,750 in damages after suffering occupational deafness

Thompsons calls for clear regulation of non laser tattoo removal

Thompsons Solicitors is calling for clearer regulations for a special tattoo removal procedure which uses injections after a client was left with permanent scarring

Search for cigarette worker’s colleagues

The family of a Tyneside man who believe he was exposed to asbestos while working at a cigarette factory in Newcastle are calling for his former work colleagues to come forward.

Delivery driver receives £22,000 for back injury

A delivery driver who was forced to leave his job after injuring his spine at work fears he will never find alternative employment.

Railway worker compensated for HAVS

The 50-year-old from Sheffield was left with debilitating condition Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) after working as a trackman for Jarvis Rail and other companies since 1978.

Shipyard worker scarred for life

A shipyard worker has been left scarred for life after he was forced to work without the correct safety equipment.

Hunt for cause of worker's cancer

A cancer victim in Harrogate is calling for his former workmates to come forward with information about his working conditions after he developed bladder cancer.

Widower receives £100,000 for wife’s death from asbestos

A Leeds widower has received £100,000 in compensation after his wife died from an asbestos related disease.

Unite wins employment rights for many 'self-employed' workers

The Court of Appeal has today handed down a landmark judgment in Autoclenz v. Belcher & others. As a result of the judgment it will be much more difficult for employers to take away workers’ employment rights by labelling them “self employed”

Student receives compensation after losing his leg

A university student has received a substantial sum in compensation after his leg was amputated following a workplace accident.

Public bodies should face tough penalties for flouting equality law

Employment rights law firm Thompsons is demanding “punitive” sanctions against public bodies who flout a proposed equality law.

School cleaner’s family compensated for asbestos related disease

The family of a school cleaner who died from an asbestos related cancer has received £110,000 in compensation

Car crash PC could have been paralysed

A police officer who suffered a slipped disc after being involved in a car crash while on duty has received £18,000 in compensation.

The distasteful art of promotion

Other law firms and claims management firms have been making use of our press releases on their own websites.

Car showroom employees compensated for dismissal

Two car showroom employees who were given just a week’s notice before being made redundant have received a significant sum in compensation.

Delivery driver’s successful asbestosis claim

A former delivery driver has received £17,500 in compensation after he was diagnosed with asbestosis.

Wrong tool causes injury

A Unite member who fears he could be unemployable following a workplace accident has received £25,000 in compensation

Compensation for shoulder injury caused by vibration

A GMB member has received £17,500 in compensation after his shoulder was permanently damaged by using vibrating tools at work.

T&N pensioner receives compensation

A Bolton pensioner is among the first to receive compensation from the Turner & Newall (T&N) asbestos Trust following a change in the law to help asbestos victims

Double appointment for serious injuries unit

Thompsons Solicitors has expanded its serious injuries unit in the North East with two new appointments.

Bank fails to protect staff from robbery

A bank worker who was held at gun point during an armed robbery has received £4,000 in compensation after Lloyds TSB failed to protect her in the workplace.

Crush victim’s solicitors welcome court decision

The employers of a man who suffered horrific crushing injuries when an 80 kilo piece of machinery fell on top of him were sentenced for their breaches of health and safety legislation at Southwark Crown Court

E-Coli and your legal rights

Parents of young children may be worried about recent reports of outbreaks of E-coli at some children’s farms.  It is important not to panic and to understand the facts behind the headlines, as well as what rights people have who become, or whose children become, infected.

Crane driver tells of 40 metre drop

A crane driver who was lucky to escape with his life when his cab fell 40 metres onto the roof of a hotel has spoken about the accident for the first time after his employers were sentenced at the Old Bailey

£57,000 awarded to Bin Man for damaged shoulder

UNISON member Alan Shambrook tripped on a raised paving slab, while working for Stevenage Borough Council

Asbestos victim’s fight for justice

A North East asbestos victim has backed the trade unions in their campaign for the right to compensation for thousands of pleural plaques sufferers.

Trainee doctor exposed to dangerous levels of chlorine

A trainee doctor who was exposed to dangerous levels of chlorine at the Hilton Hotel while working in a part time job has received £1,000 in compensation

Accrington cancer screening – comment by Thompsons Solicitors

Until 1988 breast cancer was the commonest cause of cancer deaths among women in the UK. It is now in second place, after lung cancer. However in women who die between 35 and 54 it remains the commonest fatal cancer

Lung cancer widow tells of plaques fear

The widow of a Unite member who was diagnosed with pleural plaques and went on to develop asbestos related lung cancer has received £200,000 in compensation from her husband’s former employers.

Injured fitter forced to retire early

A fitter who was forced to give up his job following an accident at work has received a substantial sum in compensation.

Union Calls for Priority for Redundancy Pay

UNITE the Union is calling for workers’ redundancy payments to be given priority when a business goes into administration

Lifeboat volunteer forced to jump ship due to injuries receives compensation

A lifeboat volunteer, who received a royal honour for decades of life-saving, has been awarded compensation after a car accident forced him to quit.

Compensation for newlyweds in head-on crash

Newlyweds on a once in a lifetime cruise of the Mediterranean have received compensation after their Italian tour bus was involved in a head-on collision in which one person died.

Compensation secured for asbestosis sufferer

Thompsons Solicitors has been successful in obtaining compensation for a client with asbestos related disease despite many of his former employers no longer trading and their insurers being untraced

Trip causes back problems for pregnant mum

A pregnant civil servant who tripped at work damaging her back has received £9,000 in accident compensation.

Mesothelioma compensation allows sufferer to pursue alternative treatments

Thompsons Solicitors has been successful in finalising a compensation claim for a mesothelioma sufferer in just five months.

Teenager's compensation trebled by Thompsons

A student badly injured in a car crash and who was advised by an insurance company that his injuries were worth just £5,000 in accident compensation has received almost three times the amount in damages after help from Thompsons Solicitors