Pipefitter’s asbestosis claim settles for £15,000 on a provisional damages basis

Mr C was born in 1942 and worked as a pipefitters mate for many years in the West Midlands. He worked for Haden Building Services Limited, a large pipefitting company, carrying out work at sites including Birmingham Repertory theatre, the Albany Hotel in Birmingham and a school in Wednesbury/Wednesfield. He worked on the biology block at the Selly Oak Hospital. His job as a pipefitters mate was to remove old asbestos lagging so the pipefitters who carry out their work, and then mix up and apply new asbestos lagging once the work had been completed.

He left Haden’s in 1963 and then went to work as pipefitters mate for British Leyland/Austin Rover company in Lonbridge in Birmingham the West Midlands. His job there also entailed removal of asbestos lagging, mixing up and reapplying new asbestos once repair work had been carried out. He worked at Longbridge until the 1980s.

He began to suffer from shortness of breath in 2013/early in 2014.  He had a history of heart problems, but his breathlessness was worsening. Tests revealed that he had asbestosis.

He instructed specialist asbestos claims solicitor, Helen Childs of RWK Goodman to pursue a claim against his previous employers. The claim has now been settled on a provisional damages basis. This means that Mr C has received compensation to reflect the current level of his respiratory disability, but if he goes on to develop any other asbestos related conditions, like lung cancer, mesothelioma or his current asbestosis significantly worsens, he will automatically have the right to go back to court and seek further compensation.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis or pleural thickening, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, you should contact Helen Childs on 020 7583 2222 for advice.