21-08-2007
Legal victory in asbestos claim
Industrial disease specialists BPE solicitors has secured substantial
damages for a Cheltenham woman whose husband died of mesothelioma just months before they were due to celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary.
June Midwinter's husband Reginald had worked for the Co-op in the supermarket chain's maintenance and refurbishment team since he was 15 years old.
Working out of the Co-op's base in India Road, Gloucester, Reginald was exposed to asbestos as he removed boiler lagging and undertook general repairs for the company.
After being diagnosed with mesothelioma in the summer of 2005, Reginald died at his Warden Hill home four months later.
With the support of Pete Lodge from BPE's personal injury team, the mother of two was notified that the Co-op had admitted full liability and the supermarket's insurers were prepared to award damages for her husband's death.
"Although I am grateful for all that the BPE team has done to secure damages for me and my children, no amount of money can compensate us for the loss of my husband. We were due to celebrate our Golden Wedding anniversary in 12 months time. I'm still devastated that Reg was taken from me before that could happen," said June.
"It was so upsetting to see someone you love deteriorate so quickly. He enjoyed walking my daughter's dog, gardening and carrying out a spot of DIY, but once the disease took hold he needed the support of a wheelchair and lost a huge amount of weight. He was often awake for hours during the night and I'd stay up to support him. Despite taking steroids, sickness pills and morphine he was still in an enormous amount of pain and discomfort," added June.
Mrs Midwinter's case is one of three claims handled by BPE's personal injury team this month which have resulted in combined damages of £450,000 being paid out to family members.
"Many industries used asbestos during the 1960's and 1970's, including the construction, manufacturing and extraction, energy and water industries. A lot of the cases we are dealing with now result from exposure to asbestos up to forty years ago," said Industrial Disease specialist Pete Lodge.
"One of the cruel things with mesothelioma is that there does not have to have been prolonged exposure to asbestos – only minimal contact may sometimes be sufficient, albeit unlucky. Some sufferers experience breathing difficulties and chest pains whereas others may have no external symptoms and yet still eventually die from respiratory failure,"
added Pete.
"For many sufferers securing an early damages settlement is vital. Typical cases can take some time to settle and sadly many of the claimants, like Mr Midwinter, do not live to see their compensation cheque arrive," said Pete.
BPE's nine-strong personal injury team, which has a regional reputation for supporting claimants, has seen a dramatic increase in mesothelioma cases over the past two years.
Pete Lodge is a industrial disease claims specialist within BPE's personal injury team. He can be contacted on 01242 248 204 or email peter.lodge@bpe.co.uk
damages for a Cheltenham woman whose husband died of mesothelioma just months before they were due to celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary.
June Midwinter's husband Reginald had worked for the Co-op in the supermarket chain's maintenance and refurbishment team since he was 15 years old.
Working out of the Co-op's base in India Road, Gloucester, Reginald was exposed to asbestos as he removed boiler lagging and undertook general repairs for the company.
After being diagnosed with mesothelioma in the summer of 2005, Reginald died at his Warden Hill home four months later.
With the support of Pete Lodge from BPE's personal injury team, the mother of two was notified that the Co-op had admitted full liability and the supermarket's insurers were prepared to award damages for her husband's death.
"Although I am grateful for all that the BPE team has done to secure damages for me and my children, no amount of money can compensate us for the loss of my husband. We were due to celebrate our Golden Wedding anniversary in 12 months time. I'm still devastated that Reg was taken from me before that could happen," said June.
"It was so upsetting to see someone you love deteriorate so quickly. He enjoyed walking my daughter's dog, gardening and carrying out a spot of DIY, but once the disease took hold he needed the support of a wheelchair and lost a huge amount of weight. He was often awake for hours during the night and I'd stay up to support him. Despite taking steroids, sickness pills and morphine he was still in an enormous amount of pain and discomfort," added June.
Mrs Midwinter's case is one of three claims handled by BPE's personal injury team this month which have resulted in combined damages of £450,000 being paid out to family members.
"Many industries used asbestos during the 1960's and 1970's, including the construction, manufacturing and extraction, energy and water industries. A lot of the cases we are dealing with now result from exposure to asbestos up to forty years ago," said Industrial Disease specialist Pete Lodge.
"One of the cruel things with mesothelioma is that there does not have to have been prolonged exposure to asbestos – only minimal contact may sometimes be sufficient, albeit unlucky. Some sufferers experience breathing difficulties and chest pains whereas others may have no external symptoms and yet still eventually die from respiratory failure,"
added Pete.
"For many sufferers securing an early damages settlement is vital. Typical cases can take some time to settle and sadly many of the claimants, like Mr Midwinter, do not live to see their compensation cheque arrive," said Pete.
BPE's nine-strong personal injury team, which has a regional reputation for supporting claimants, has seen a dramatic increase in mesothelioma cases over the past two years.
Pete Lodge is a industrial disease claims specialist within BPE's personal injury team. He can be contacted on 01242 248 204 or email peter.lodge@bpe.co.uk
