Mother And Daughter Join Forces With Expert Lawyers In Bid For Justice

The devastated family of a former paint shop worker who died from the debilitating asbestos-related disease mesothelioma are appealing for his former colleagues to help expert industrial disease lawyers investigate why his employers didn't do more to protect him from the poisonous dust.

Albert Flower, (often known as Paul or Bert), died in February this year following a five-month battle with mesothelioma, which is caused by exposure to asbestos dust and fibres. At an inquest into his death, held at Macclesfield Coroner's Court this week, Coroner Dr Geoff Roberts recorded a verdict of “death caused by industrial illness.”

His widow Brenda and daughter Jane, have instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell's Manchester office, and together they are now appealing for his former colleagues from Postans Paints of Aston Church Road in Birmingham to help them investigate the working conditions there.

Albert worked at the paint and coatings manufacturer from 1953 to 1966.  When he first started work at the factory he worked in the laboratory for about two years.  During his illness he told his family that he believed he may have been exposed to asbestos in the laboratory in the 1950s whilst coatings were being mixed. After working in the laboratory for a spell he then worked as a salesman for the North West region, selling paint to kitchen manufacturers. Postans is believed to have been sold to a firm called Manders in 1988.

He was sadly diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2011 and died just five months later in February 2012.

Megan Christie, a specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Albert’s family, said: “Asbestos-related diseases are such debilitating conditions and can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families. Sadly, Albert died just five months after developing mesothelioma but his family are determined to piece together how he came into contact with asbestos and to get him the justice he deserves.

"We hope that as many of Bert's former colleagues come forward to help us with information about working conditions in the Postans paint factory. We would like to speak to anyone who worked at the factory in the 1950s."

Jane, from Teddington, added: "Mesothelioma is such a vicious disease - it took my father from us so quickly we never had the chance to get him the justice he deserved while he was still alive. He told me he was never given a mask or protective clothing to wear at work, or warned about how detrimental asbestos could be to his health, so we hope his case raises awareness about how dangerous it can be.

"We also hope that with the help of Irwin Mitchell and his former colleagues we can get to the bottom of how he was exposed to asbestos and why more wasn't done to protect him."

Anyone with information about the working conditions at Postans Paints should contact Megan Christie at Irwin Mitchell on 0161 838 5595 or email megan.christie@irwinmitchell.com.