Widow’s search for insurer after husband dies from asbestos related cancer

Exposed to asbestos dust

19/10/2007

The wife of a Brandesburton man, who died after being exposed to asbestos, is appealing for help to track down the insurers from a local business which was closed down after he worked there.

Geoffrey Grant, a father of two from Brandesburton, East Yorkshire was just 60 years old when he died from the fatal asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma at his home on July 28, 2007.

Marlene Grant now hopes that with help from former employees and insurance brokers of the business, and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors she can take forward her legal battle for compensation following the tragic death of her husband.

It is believed that Mr Grant must have been exposed to asbestos dust whilst working for Transline Limited at Catwick Lane, Brandesburton between 1970 and 1978 when he was lining the inside of portakabins with asbestos sheets. He used to cut up the sheets by hand and was never provided with any respiratory equipment by his employers to protect him against the asbestos dust.

It is known that the company, Transline Limited, eventually closed in the early part of the 1990s. Efforts to date to track down the insurer of the business have not been successful, even though at the time of Mr Grant’s employment, liability insurance was a legal requirement.

Mrs Grant is now asking people to come forward with any information they might have about the liability insurers working for Transline Limited at the time when her husband worked there. Without this information she will not be able to pursue her claim.

Diagnosed with mesothelioma

She said:”My husband started to become ill early this year. He did not know what it was initially, but I know he was in imense pain before and after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

“This terrible illness took him away from us so very quickly and he suffered greatly in the last few months of his life. He has left behind a family who miss him terribly and this has made me determined to make sure that Geoff’s death does not go unmarked and that the insurers who are responsible are found.

“I also want to ensure that if anyone else is diagnosed with this dreadful illness in the future, full and proper compensation can be obtained for them and their families too.”

Ian Bailey, from the Leeds office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell, is representing Mrs Grant in her claim for compensation. He explained: “This is a particularly tragic case where the client died within a short period of his diagnosis. Mrs Grant and her family had little time to come to terms with the situation.

“An inquest has already taken place in Hull this month which confirmed that Mr Grant died of an asbestos-related disease. Were it not for his exposure to asbestos at Transline, Mr Grant would still be with us today.

“It is vital, in order for his family to obtain some recompense for the debilitating illness from which he died, that people come forward with information about the company and I also urge any former insurance broker for the Transline Group to come forward to assist Mrs Grant in her fight for justice for her husband.”

Anyone who can assist is requested to contact Ian Bailey at Irwin Mitchell solicitors on 0870 1500 100.