Essex Man’s Loved Ones Join With Lawyers In Battle For Justice

The family of a former sheet metal worker who died last year from an asbestos-related disease are appealing for his former colleagues to come forward, as legal experts work to help them gain answers regarding his death.

John Bright, from Harlow in Essex, died aged 68 in November 2015 fifteen months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, the cancer of the lining of the lung which is commonly associated with contact with asbestos materials.

Prior to his death, John and his family instructed specialist asbestos lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how his illness developed and help them understand whether more should have been done to protect him from asbestos exposure.

As part of their investigations, they are now calling for help from anyone who worked with John at WJ Collins, trading as New Ducts Ltd, between 1963 and 1994. Before passing away, John had mentioned how he believed his work fitting air conditioning and air vent ducting may have brought him into contact with asbestos.

Phoebe Osborne, a legal expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Cambridge office who is representing John’s family in their search for answers, said:

In a statement made before his death, John recalled how New Ducts Ltd made heating and air conditioning ventilation and extraction ducts. 

John’s widow Joyce, 68, who was married to John for 46 years, said: “He remembered feeding ducting through holes he had cut in corrugated factory roofing which he believed was manufactured with asbestos, he also recalled working on old buildings with asbestos cladding. The nature of his work meant there was also a lot of dust around him.

“It was devastating to see how mesothelioma affected John and it left him unable to do even the most basic day-to-day tasks. 

“We miss him every day and while nothing will bring him back, we just want to know whether more should have been done to protect him from the risks of asbestos exposure and gain justice on his behalf.”

Anyone with information regarding the working conditions John may have faced during employment at New Ducts Ltd should contact Phoebe Osborne at Irwin Mitchell on 0117 926 1549 or email phoebe.osborne@irwinmitchell.com.