Six-figure compensation for widow following former electrician’s death from mesothelioma

Mr J began to feel unwell and experience pain in early 2022. Shortly after, his condition rapidly deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery after a tumour was found to be causing spinal compression. In May 2022, whilst in hospital, he received the devastating news that he had mesothelioma.

Mr J contacted RWK Goodman’s specialist asbestos disease team. A member of the team immediately met with Mr J and his wife whilst he was in hospital to discuss his asbestos exposure and take a witness statement from him.

Mr J was employed by the Southern Electricity Board (“SEB”) from 1962 to around 1990, initially as an apprentice electrician and then as a qualified electrician.

During his employment, Mr J regularly worked in homes, factories and other industrial locations. He often had to drill into cupboards, ceilings and walls, which contained asbestos. He would also often have to service or repair heaters that often contained asbestos.

Mr J was also exposed to large amounts of asbestos dust whilst working on old MOD bases. He regularly had to drill into asbestos-containing walls, ceilings and floors and pulled asbestos-insulated cables through conduits. This resulted in asbestos dust and fibres being released, which Mr J inevitably inhaled.

Whilst on site, Mr J was in close proximity to others who were mixing raw asbestos powder with water and applying it to boilers and pipework. This created clouds of thick asbestos dust, which he unavoidably breathed in. Mr J was not provided with any breathing protection, nor warned of the dangers of asbestos and so was exposed to significant quantities of asbestos dust.

Mr J was discharged from hospital after about a month, but he never regained his strength in his lower limbs, and became increasingly unwell, suffering delirium, a cough and requiring oxygen therapy. Once home, Mr J required around-the-clock care from his wife.

Mr J sadly passed away in mid-2022 whilst his claim was ongoing and his wife continued the claim on behalf of his Estate.

Laura Wilkinson, the specialist asbestos disease solicitor who handled the claim, gathered expert medical evidence that confirmed Mr J’s life expectancy was reduced by over 11 years because of his premature death from mesothelioma. She also obtained witness evidence from a friend and former colleague of Mr J’s to support the lifetime witness evidence that Mr J had given about his asbestos exposure with the SEB.

After preparing to issue Court proceedings, the SEB admitted liability in full. An interim payment was made to Mrs J whilst attempts were made to settled the full value of the claim with SEB’s insurers.

After quantifying the claim, settlement negotiations were entered into with the SEB’s insurers and the claim settled in the sum of £230,000 without the need to issue Court proceedings.

Ms Wilkinson commented,

“I was really pleased to have achieved a successful outcome for Mrs J and her family. Whilst no amount of compensation can ever replace what happened to Mr J and the devastating impact it has had on Mrs J and their lovely family, it does at least give Mrs J some financial security and a feeling that justice has been served.”