Six-figure compensation secured for former carpenter with mesothelioma

Novum Law’s expert team of asbestos disease compensation lawyers has secured £220,000 in compensation for the family of Trevor*, a former carpenter from Hampshire diagnosed with the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.

Exposed to asbestos as a carpenter

Trevor was born and raised near Aldershot in Hampshire. He left school at the age of 15, starting a carpentry apprenticeship in 1962 in which he worked for 2 building companies. The firms were involved in a range of construction work, including new builds and refurbishments.

Trevor’s bosses gave him all sorts of jobs to do including cutting asbestos boards and sheeting for soffits and fascias, as well as menial tasks such as tidying and sweeping up asbestos dust and debris at the end of the day. He noticed that his clothes, which he wore to and from work, were often covered in asbestos dust.

Following his apprenticeship, Trevor started working for a large national building and construction company.

He worked on constructing new homes and office blocks around Aldershot and Basingstoke, cutting up asbestos sheeting with a handsaw for things like soffits and fascias, as well as the partitioning and boxing in of areas such as office stairwells and kitchens to prevent fire.

Wherever they worked, Trevor and his colleagues would set up an onsite workshop area for all the cutting up and preparation work. This meant working in confined areas with limited ventilation, where there was often a lot of asbestos dust and debris around.

Trevor also worked near laggers applying insulation to service pipes, a messy process that created more dust and debris.

Trevor remembered his colleagues talking about the ‘wonder product’ asbestos and was aware of how commonly it was used in his workplace and in the construction industry. However, none of his employers gave him any warnings or protection against the risks of asbestos exposure.

Devastating mesothelioma diagnosis

After running his own carpentry business for 20 years, Trevor retired. Over recent years he had become increasingly aware of the dangers of asbestos, which concerned him as he looked back on his earlier career and the work practices from the time. However, he enjoyed his retirement, and he and his wife took holidays around the UK and overseas.

In September 2019, Trevor started to feel unwell. He became tired and lethargic which was very out of character.

After going to see his GP, Trevor was initially given treatment for diabetes. After this failed to improve the situation, his doctor sent Trevor for more blood checks and a chest X-ray which showed problems with his lungs.

Following further tests including a CT scan, a biopsy and the draining of fluid from his lungs, Trevor received a devastating diagnosis of mesothelioma.

His diagnosis came as a complete shock to Trevor and his family. He described it as “a bolt out of the blue”. Worried about what the future held for himself and his wife, Trevor got in contact with Novum Law’s expert team of mesothelioma compensation lawyers, who took on his case.

Compensation for mesothelioma

Trevor’s physical health worsened significantly in just a few weeks. After a short spell in a hospice, he returned home to be cared for by his wife where he died in late 2020.

During the last few months of his life, Novum Law solicitors met with Trevor and his family. They discussed his work history, asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis, and collected further witness statements, financial information and expert medical evidence to support Trevor’s claim.

After presenting the evidence to Trevor’s former employers (the defendants), the case was settled for £220,000 in August 2021.

The compensation covered the care Trevor had received from the hospice that looked after him towards the end of his life. It also compensated his family for travel costs, the increased utility bills Trevor and his wife faced, and his funeral.

How Novum Law can help

Specialist asbestos solicitor Rebecca Ryan says:

“We are glad to have helped Trevor and his family secure justice after his past employers’ negligence led to him developing the terminal asbestos cancer, mesothelioma. 

“The compensation has given Trevor’s wife a sense of closure – acknowledging the loss of her beloved husband and the financial security he provided.

“A mesothelioma diagnosis turns lives upside down. It’s important to speak to a specialist mesothelioma compensation solicitor as soon as possible following your diagnosis. They will work with you to start the process of making a claim, and will help you access any care and support you and your family need.”

At Novum Law, our specialist, compassionate team knows how challenging a mesothelioma diagnosis can be and will support you at every step and ensure you achieve maximum compensation.

To find out more about how Novum Law can support you on a ‘No Win No Fee‘ basis call us on Freephone 0800 884 0777, email info@novumlaw.com or complete our online enquiry form for a free, no obligation chat.