Fatal mesothelioma claim settled for over £125,000 after previous firm of solicitors gave up

Our client’s father had worked at a brewery in Newcastle in the 1970s. His previous work-mates were able to confirm that there was asbestos present both in the brewery and in the cellars of the numerous pubs to which deliveries of beer were being made. It was impossible to avoid damaging the asbestos in the cellars as the beer-barrels were delivered. Our client’s father was only 64 when he began to develop the symptoms of mesothelioma. He was still working, and was a very hands-on grandfather, often caring for his grandchildren, one of whom has profound disabilities. Sadly and inevitably, our client’s father died in July 2012. When we were instructed in July 2015, there were just three weeks within which court proceedings needed to be commenced. This is because the time limit for bringing a claim is 3 years from the date of knowledge or the date of death if later.

When the file was received from the previous solicitors, it became clear that although they were aware of the identity of our client’s father’s previous work-mates, they had not taken statements from them. A statement was obtained and disclosed to the defendants together with supportive medical evidence which we also arranged, and a schedule of losses arising out of the death of our client’s father.

The claim settled for a substantial six figure sum on Christmas Eve 2015. On hearing the news, our client praised our "professional determination" in bringing the claim to a conclusion.

Some of the money will be invested to help care for her son and daughter, who has disabilities and will need lifelong care.