Mesothelioma Compensation for Woman Exposed to Asbestos Dust from Husband's Clothes

Mesothelioma compensation case

Mrs C was diagnosed with the asbestos related disease of mesothelioma in July 2005, aged 45.  Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos.

Initially, Mrs C thought that she had come into contact with asbestos whilst working as a typist in an old building in the City of London.  It was only later that she realised that she had been exposed to asbestos dust and fibres from her husband’s overalls, whilst he worked for George Wimpey as an apprentice carpenter after leaving school in 1977.

This was before they were married and she would meet him every day after work, when his clothes would be covered in dust.  At the time, she did not think too much of it and she would often tidy up his clothes and shake them out ready for washing.

A medical report was obtained and this supported the view that it was Mrs C’s exposure to asbestos from her husband’s working clothes which probably caused her mesothelioma.

Caroline Pinfold, specialist asbestos disease solicitor and a partner in the London office of Irwin Mitchell, started court action against George Wimpey on behalf of Mrs C in October 2007.  At a hearing in December 2007, George Wimpey was found liable and judgment was entered in Mrs C’s favour. She received an interim payment of £47,000.

One of the issues in this case was that the claim for compensation included a claim for the considerable amount of money that Mrs C had spent following an alternative treatment programme.

The claim was settled out of court 2 weeks before the final hearing for a six figure sum in April 2008. The agreed figure included payments made to a faith healer and a substantial amount for the alternative treatments.

If you have been exposed to asbestos dust at any time during your life, contact us for free legal advice.