Michael commenced an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery in early 1956. His apprenticeship with Robert Hart & Sons Limited (“the company”) was scheduled to last approximately 5 years, and provide him with the necessary training to excel as a qualified carpenter joiner long into the future. While Michael’s time with the company resulted in him honing lifelong skills, it also led to significant exposure to asbestos. After developing the asbestos cancer mesothelioma Michael’s family sought answers regarding his ability to seek compensation and contacted Laura for assistance. Circumstances of asbestos exposure After finishing his apprenticeship Michael continued working for the company as a qualified carpenter joiner. Aside from a short 12-month break Michael worked for the company for several years, ultimately leaving to pursue other opportunities in 1971. During Michael’s time with the company he regularly handled, cut and fashioned Asbestolux sheets into soffits, wall boarding and internal fittings. The large white sheets were his paint, with handsaws, a 9-inch circular electric saw and power drills acting as paint brushes during the fabrication process. Michael’s recollection of specific job sites was spotty, although he did recall one specific job at the Walthamstow Bus Depot where he cut asdiane asbestos sheets into strips for the main entrance. Alongside working with the Asbestolux sheets, Michael also regularly cut and handled corrugated asbestos roofing sheets known as “Big Six”. Jobs involving the roofing sheets were multifaceted as old asbestos roofing sheets needed to be prised off and replaced by new, freshly cut corrugated roofing sheets. The old sheets were simply thrown to the ground from the roof before being bagged up and disposed of at the conclusion of the day. Onset of symptoms and diagnosis The skills cultivated by Michael left him uniquely positioned to continue working as he aged. In the 2020s Michael turned his mind to running wood carving and wood turning courses and managed this with no difficulties. However, 2024 led to a significant deterioration in Michael’s health. He started feeling unwell in April 2024 with his asthma, COPD and early-stage bladder cancer complicating matters. Following breathing difficulties in July 2024 paramedics were called and Michael was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for further investigations. Sometime after this initial incident an ambulance was called again but could not be dispatched in time. Michael’s daughter drove him to the Stoke Mandeville Hospital to see a respiratory physician and to undergo a pleural drain. The drain lead to suspicions that Michael had developed the asbestos related cancer mesothelioma, although he and his family were informed that a treatment plan could not be formulated until a diagnosis was confirmed. Michael’s diagnosis was received shortly thereafter, with his health rapidly deteriorating prior to his untimely death in mid-October 2024. At the time of his diagnosis Michael’s prospects for treatment were not good. He received palliative care by way of hospice at home shortly before his passing. The claims process Michael’s family first contacted Laura in September 2024. Following an initial telephone conversation a home visit was promptly scheduled to ensure that Michael’s lifetime evidence would be preserved in a witness statement. Details regarding Michael’s working history allowed Laura’s team to conduct detailed company research to locate a paymaster, with a letter of claim being sent to the company’s insurer days before Michael’s passing just one month after Laura visited. Michael’s wife, Diana, then stepped in to continue with the claim and Laura began actioning different tasks to keep the claim rolling. Michael’s lifetime statement was promptly disclosed alongside other supporting documents to enable a decision regarding liability to be made. While awaiting a liability decision an investigation into Michael’s death was completed by the coroner. Quantifying the claim post Michael’s passing required evidence regarding Diana’s life expectancy, the care and assistance provided by different family members to Michael prior to his passing, and evidence of pensions being received was all necessary. Following receipt of the coroner’s findings a report was obtained from a consultant physician, with the company’s insurer providing an admission of liability in early 2025. Settlement achieved After receiving an interim payment of damages Laura worked tirelessly with Diana to bring the claim to a conclusion. The final pieces of evidence necessary for quantifying the claim was promptly gathered, with initial offers of settlement being made in early July 2025. Negotiations ultimately concluded a few weeks later with Diana accepting a six-figure settlement offer to finalise Michael’s claim. Diana’s daughter said: "When my 84 year old father was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in July 2024 I had Laura Magson of Boyes Turner recommended by a friend who had lost a parent to the same disease, and I am so grateful that we made contact. Within an hour of my email enquiry, Laura called and we arranged a date for her to come and interview dad, who at this point was already bedridden and living with me as we had organised 'hospice at home' for him. Although I knew it was important that Laura meet dad in person if we were to get a settlement for mum, I did have reservations if I was doing the right thing to an elderly man with only weeks left, but I also wanted to do the right thing for my mother. I needn't have worried at all, Laura understood how ill dad was and rather than 'interview' him, just sat with us with a cup of tea and chatted at his bedside, just drawing out the information she needed from both him and my mother about is work history of 60 years prior. He was put under no pressure, and just from that one meeting Laura had enough information to start a claim and also arrange support for us with HASAG (Asbestos disease support) who organised the benefits that mum and dad were entitled to. A year later we have an amazing settlement that means that mum can have the same care if ever she needs it. We are so grateful to Laura and her colleagues for their help with this matter, nothing can change what happened to dad, but I have the peace of mind knowing I can look after mum now with no financial worries." *Names have been anonymised For more information about how the mesothelioma and asbestos disease claims team can help you or your loved ones after a diagnosis of an asbestos related disease, please contact the team by email on asbestos@boyesturner.com or by telephone on 0118 952 7199.
