Expert Comments

Opinion

Funding treatment for mesothelioma through litigation

The immune system protects us from disease. Normally the immune system detects and destroys mutated cells such as cancer but, sometimes the cells can escape detection and develop into tumours....

February 15, 2017
Opinion

Should insurance companies be trusted?

A look back in history at the way that one of the UK’s biggest asbestos claims handlers dealt with their liabilities gives us a clue. The Iron Trades, a mutual...

January 17, 2017
Blog

Asbestos exposure in schools – a family’s story

You couldn’t fail to by moved today when listening to Jenny Murray’s interview with Lucy Stephens, daughter of Sue Stephens, who sadly died aged 68 in June this year as...

December 9, 2016
Opinion

True cost of asbestos in schools

More than 224 teachers have died of mesothelioma in the period between 2003 and 2012. We are now also seeing an increasing number of younger people diagnosed with mesothelioma and...

August 17, 2016
Opinion

Removing all trace

The government proposal to delete records of companies after 6 years makes little sense to anyone trying to pursue industrial disease litigation. The DWP figures for mesothelioma victims for 2015/2016...

August 9, 2016
Opinion

The needs of industry

In the 1960s, faced with increasing scientific evidence that all types of asbestos caused mesothelioma the asbestos industry sought to fight back in the same way as the tobacco industry...

August 2, 2016
Opinion

Court of appeal decides in favour of asbestosis victim – a victory for common sense

Harry Steinberg QC and Aliyah Akram, both of 12 King’s Bench Walk chambers, successfully argued in the Court of Appeal that a 2.3% contribution to a claimant’s asbestosis constituted actionable...

July 29, 2016
Opinion

The difference between tobacco and asbestos?

Today if anyone quoted from the tobacco manufacturer’s scientific evidence that smoking does not cause lung cancer they would probably be laughed out of court. However, despite their own knowledge...

July 20, 2016
Opinion

Science and asbestos or simple reality?

Examination of the various studies produced and funded by the asbestos industry show a long history of manipulation of scientific data to postulate that anything but chrysotile causes mesothelioma. Time...

July 6, 2016
Opinion
  • mesothelioma

Action Mesothelioma Day

Action Mesothelioma Day is a chance to remember the more than 2500 people who died of this disease last year in the UK. We should also think about the similar...

June 29, 2016
Opinion

Asbestos victims of terror attacks

I had the privilege of meeting Jonathan Woods and acted for him in respect of his claim for mesothelioma arising out of his exposure to asbestos at the Grand Hotel,...

June 27, 2016
Opinion

The myth of safe white asbestos

Reading this article got me thinking about the ongoing threat posed to members of the public by irresponsible and unlicensed asbestos removal and disposal. It seems fly-tipping of asbestos is...

June 6, 2016
Opinion

Fact: White asbestos kills

The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorises asbestos as a Group 1 Carcinogen, meaning that it is definitely carcinogenic to humans. All types of asbestos cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is...

May 27, 2016
Opinion

Helping Hospices

This year more than 400 gardens across England and Wales will be open during the NGS Festival Garden Weekend from 4 to 5 June 2016.

May 25, 2016
Opinion

Insurers save at the expense of victims

The scheme was set up in 2014 to compensate those suffering from mesothelioma who were negligently exposed to asbestos at work but could not trace their ex-employers or their insurers...

May 23, 2016
Opinion

Right of direct action against insurers to become a reality… at last!

The Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 received Royal Assent on 25 March 2010 yet is still not in force. Implementation of the Act has been delayed because of...

May 20, 2016
Opinion

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes – the new “miracle fibre”

During a recent flight, I was chatting to the passenger next to me about work. When I told her I handled cases for people who have developed mesothelioma due to...

April 27, 2016
Opinion

Workers’ Memorial Day, 28.4.16: Remember the Dead, Fight Like Hell for the Living!

Our work as industrial disease lawyers makes us acutely aware of the consequences of employers’ disregard for the health and safety of their workers as we represent those who, through...

April 27, 2016
Opinion

“No one knew asbestos was dangerous…”

The 1931 Asbestos Industry Regulations were designed to protect the safety of workers in the Asbestos Industry and factories from the risks to health from working with asbestos.

April 26, 2016
Opinion

TTIP and the return of asbestos

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a series of trade negotiations that have been going on for three years in near complete secrecy between the EU and US.

April 22, 2016
BACK TO THE TOP