A substantial settlement has been achieved for an 80-year-old man who developed mesothelioma many years after he was exposed to asbestos at work.
The man had worked as a plumber at a hospital, where he had removed asbestos lagging from pipes using hand tools before sweeping up the dust. He was never provided with protective equipment nor warned about the risks of working with asbestos.
Nearly 60 years later, he began to experience chest pain. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that usually affects the lining of the lungs and is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. He commenced immunotherapy treatment, which caused a number of side-effects including fever, pneumonia, hallucinations and severe fatigue. Over time, he began to find tasks such as household maintenance and gardening increasingly difficult.
After taking legal advice, he brought a claim for compensation and a six-figure settlement was secured. As well as compensating him for his pain and suffering, the damages reflect the tasks he can no longer carry out himself, such as maintaining his garden, and the care and support his wife provides him with. The settlement also allows him to recover the costs of medical treatment he needs in the future.