Mesothelioma Articles

Widow's £152,000 asbestos victory

Posted: May 6, 2004

Source: BBC News

Sylvia Barker, from Flintshire, fought off an attempt in the Appeal Court to strip her of £152,000 compensation.

Vernon Barker died in June 1996 from mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs.

The Appeal Court in London rejected a claim by the legal successors to the firm involved that it should not have to pay.

The court heard that between 1960 and 1968 Mr Barker was "heavily" exposed to asbestos dust.

Mr Barker, who died aged 57, worked at Shotton steelworks on Deeside as a labourer for John Summers and Sons Ltd.

Injustice claim

Lord Justice Kay told the court that the greatest exposure to Mr Barker was over six months when he was involved in cleaning up the galvanising section.

Lord Justice Kay said "clouds of asbestos" would escape as workers repaired leaking furnaces and Mr Barker and others would be required to sweep up.

In May last year Mrs Barker, 56, from Holywell, was awarded £152,000 damages for the loss of her husband.

The money was paid by Saint-Gobain Pipelines plc - legal successors to John Summers and Sons.

Saint-Gobain had tried to argue it was not responsible for Mr Barker's death because he had worked as a self employed plasterer for 20 years, during which time he had also been exposed to asbestos dust.

The company argued that it had been dealt an "injustice".

But Lord Justice Kay said although Mr Barker had been self-employed that was no reason for Saint-Gobain to "escape liability".

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