For UK Mesothelioma and Asbestos Victims, Filing A Lawsuit Takes A Village

Anybody who has pursued a mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease lawsuit in the United States knows how heavily that process relies on expert witnesses and formal depositions taken from suppliers to former employers, former colleagues, and others who might have insider knowledge of the victim’s working environment. In the United Kingdom, the pursuit of legal action against those responsible for an individual’s exposure to asbestos takes on a much less formal tone, and often relies on calls to action sent out by word-of-mouth or via the local newspaper. All you have to do is search the pages of local media and you’ll find pleas for people who might have been present to step forward. A good example was seen the other day, when the pages of The Northern Echo, a tabloid with a circulation of less than 27,000 people, published a plea from a widow to her husband’s former co-workers.

Bricklayer’s Widow Seeks Justice After Asbestos Exposure Death

The publication has frequently published similar pleas from survivors of those who have died of mesothelioma, but in the case of Edward Hodgson Phillips, his death came from asbestosis. The bricklayer was just 74 when he died last April, and now his family is working with attorneys to seek compensation for their loss. His widow Sandra reports that the two were married for more than 50 years, and for her there is no doubt as to where his lung condition came from: when she heard that the post-mortem identified his cause of death as asbestosis she said,  “I can remember Eddie’s time working at the steelworks so clearly, particularly how he always used to leave work covered from head to toe in white dust. He would often visit my parents’ house after a shift so he could have a bath, as his parents didn’t have hot water.

Asbestos Victim Worked with Carcinogen Daily

Like many survivors of asbestos-related disease victims, Mrs. Phillips goes into great detail about her husband’s exposure to the deadly material. Asbestos was a part of his daily life. “His job as a bricklayer meant he was responsible for building and repairing the furnaces at the site and this included lining them with asbestos. He also told me how he would have to cut the sheets and blocks of insulation in order to do it, but as far as I am aware he was never warned of any dangers.”

To Seek Justice Following Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases, Witnesses are Needed

Mrs. Phillips is pursuing the same path as previous survivors of mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease victims, seeking help from former colleagues. Eight months after losing her husband, she says, “It is only eight months since Eddie’s death and the whole family still misses him so much. We were devastated to learn of his asbestosis and feel we deserve some answers and justice regarding how it emerged.” To that end, they are asking via the newspaper that anybody who worked with him contact the family to provide information on asbestos that was present at his worksite.

The legal system in the United Kingdom is different in many ways from that of the United States, but all mesothelioma victims share a need for help and support. If you need assistance or need to know where to find resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer

Terri Oppenheimer

Writer
Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

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