Laura was approached by Lawrence* in March 2023 following his diagnosis of an asbestos related pleural effusion and pleural thickening. Lawrence then subsequently developed mesothelioma and unfortunately passed away in October 2023. Medical history Lawrence was first diagnosed with a pleural effusion alongside pleural thickening in 2020. He would regularly see a respiratory physician however he remained breathless and continued to struggle with his health. In early 2023 Lawrence was found to be suffering with asbestos related pleural thickening and an asbestos related pleural effusion before then sadly being diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2023. Asbestos exposure Lawrence started working aged 16 and initially worked as a motor mechanic, having completed an apprenticeship, before later moving on to working with heating and ventilation systems. This spanned from the 1950s through to the 1980s. He worked on repairing and replacing heating systems and boilers, which involved knocking off asbestos from boilers and re-lagging them with asbestos paste that he made by mixing asbestos powder and water. There was debris left lyingon the floor which he swept up, creating a very dusty environment. He came across asbestos on a dailybasis and was not warned of the dangers of exposure, nor was he provided with a face mask. The claims process When Lawrence first approached Boyes Turner his claim was on the basis of the pleural effusion and pleural thickening. The nature of the claim later changed due to his development and diagnosis of mesothelioma. Due to the various diagnoses and conditions, Laura obtained a number of expert reports on Lawrence's health throughout the claim. Due to Lawrence's decline in health, Laura and her colleagues made several visits to Lawrence's home in order to discuss updates and so that he could hand sign documents. After Lawrence's passing in October 2023, the family obtained a Grant of Probate and the claim was continued by Lawrence's wife. Laura made sure to provide support to his wife, who was understandably grieving, and continued to visit her at home to discuss any progress with the claim. Settlement Laura managed to secure an interim payment of £50,000 for his wife. As the claim progressed, she was preparing to issue proceedings however the Defendants came forward with a six figure gross offer in July 2024, which his wife accepted just before the claim was issued. Whilst no amount of money can compensate the wife for the loss of her husband, she was pleased the case was brought to a successful conclusion and valued the support she and her husband received from both Boyes Turner and HASAG a charity dedicated to helping those affected by asbestos disease. Lawrence's wife was incredibly concerned about any legal proceedings and is delighted that the case was brought to a successful conclusion without the need to issue the claim in the High Court. *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.
