The head of the Industrial Disease Department Jean Harkin has
been involved in a High Court Test Case.
The insurance
industry is challenging a legal action that may have
far-reaching consequences. The
insurance industry have brought a test case that started on Monday
8th November 2004 in the High Court in Manchester and which could close down claims
by people with pleural plaques, a calcification of the lungs that
can be caused by asbestos.
Compensation has been
paid to people with plaques for the past twenty years. A typical
award is £5,000, with the right to return to court if a serious
illness develops, or £10,000 as a “full and final” settlement.
Jean Harkin has said of
the challenge, "It is yet another attempt by the Insurance
Industry to play down the seriousness of asbestos exposure
claims."
Submissions are to be
made to Holland J in the High Court in London on the 6th and 7th
December 2004.
For information on
Pleural Plaques look in the Industrial
Disease Section of our website.
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