Government Attacked For Mesothelioma U-Turn

Critics have rounded on the government, following a change in stance which means that mesothelioma sufferers will only receive a portion of the compensation payment that they are due. The changes mean that mesothelioma sufferers will not be able to reclaim the success fee or after the event premiums and the changes have come after a review last July. The review itself followed a new bill in April that saw exemptions for those people that have contracted mesothelioma from the workplace.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that is contracted after coming into contact with harmful asbestos fibres. The minute fibres typically affect the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs and chest wall, and there is no cure for the disease. Once a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they typically only have a short amount of time left.

Large compensation payments have been made by companies that put their employees at undue risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was a cheap and convenient building material used during the 20th century but even following evidence that it was dangerous when people were exposed to it, many companies continued to rely on its use. Millions of people were exposed to the killer fibres, and even the families of those that worked with it were put in danger.

In April 2013, the government introduced a new bill that meant claimants were unable to reclaim success fees following personal injury cases. However, the government decided, at the time, that mesothelioma cases would be exempt from the new bill. In July 2013, just three months later, they started to backtrack on this decision and said that they were consulting on whether the exemption should be lifted. A final consultation has now concluded, and those that have contracted one of the most deadly forms of cancer will be left out of pocket.

Lawyers and the law society in general have rounded on the government for their U-turn, saying that a person who contracts a deadly disease while at work should be entitled to full compensation and to ensure that their families are properly protected and cared for once they have gone.

General PI NewsJan 18th, 20140 comments