Pleural plaques compensation decision

October 17th 2007

The House of Lords has today delivered a landmark ruling, destroying the hope of many victims suffering from asbestos-related diseases.

Two years of tortuous legal process have today come to an end with a hugely significant ruling in the case of Rothwell v Chemical Insulation & Co. Why is the case so important? Because the Law Lords have ruled unanimously that compensation should not be awarded to victims of the asbestos-related disease ‘pleural plaques’, as the physical changes that result do not lead to any obvious symptoms. The ramifications of this landmark and complicated case are hugely significant resulting in the inability of potentially thousands of people to seek compensation from their insurers and employers.

Simon Allen, Head of Personal Injury at Russell Jones & Walker, RJW said;

“The reality is that the defensive instincts of large capitalist institutions have been permitted to prevail at the expense of those exposed to asbestos. Those victims can now only wait anxiously to see if the illnesses to which the defendants have exposed them will develop.”

If you would like an interview with Simon Allen please call:

Sophie Spyropoulos at Lucre 0113 243 1117 / 07921 504 132