JW Roberts Ltd of T&N Group

Victims of asbestos related diseases may finally receive some compensation more than 5 years after the Turner & Newall group of companies went into administration. JW Roberts Ltd, which owned the now infamous factory in Armley, Leeds, is one of the companies in the T&N group.

Many people who worked at or lived on the doorstep of the former JW Roberts asbestos factory have died from mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer which usually affects the lining of the lung and for which there is little treatment and no cure.

Dust from the JW Roberts factory, literally rained on the surrounding streets, polluting the neighbourhood. Children made snowballs with the asbestos dust and some victims even described playing tea parties, as children, with the asbestos dust which was lying around or drawing hopscotch squares in it. The factory's loading bays were a magnet to local children, with heaps of asbestos sacks left lying around which the children used to jump on.

The Administrators, Kroll, have put together proposals for a £33 million Trust Fund to pay out future claims. Creditors, including asbestos sufferers and their families, are being asked to vote on the Administrators proposals on 6 September 2006.

If the Trust Fund proposals are approved, claimants who have been waiting 5 years or more might finally receive payments. However claimants can only expect to receive about 20p in the pound. A claimant with mesothelioma who might have previously received £100,000, will now receive nearer to £20,000.

Irwin Mitchell solicitors representing asbestos victims

National law firm, Irwin Mitchell, is representing a number of claimants and their families. Claims are being submitted to the Administrators in anticipation of the Trust Fund being approved.

Adrian Budgen, head of the asbestos disease litigation unit of the national law firm Irwin Mitchell says, I hope that the trustees of the UK Asbestos Trust will deal with claims speedily and sympathetically.

"These claimants have suffered enough already and they have had to wait an inordinately long time for their claims to be paid. Many have sadly died during the administration process.

"No sum of money can compensate a person for their loss of good health or loss of a loved one but it is an added blow for T&N claimants that they will now only receive a fraction of the value of their full claim.

"We have been studying the detail of the proposed Trust Fund and distribution procedures over the last few weeks and we will be doing all we can to ensure that claims are submitted as soon as possible."

Do you have a claim? If you, or someone you know has been effected by asbestos, our solicitors can help. Vist our asbestos claims section.

If you or a loved one has been affected by an asbestos related illness, our solicitors can help you to claim compensation. See our Asbestos Claims page for more information.