JUAC welcomes landmark for asbestos sufferers

Press release: 29 March 2012

JUAC welcomes landmark for asbestos sufferers 

The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) welcomes yesterday’s landmark ruling by the Supreme Court (in the case of Joan Eddleston versus the Excess Insurance, MMI, and Builders Accident and Independent Insurance Company) which will affect many of the thousands of people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. It means that thousands of families will be able to seek compensation for the loss of loved ones. 

The fact that judges in the country’s highest court agreed that the insurers of an employer at the time of the exposure to asbestos should pay compensation means that liability for causing this fatal disease can no longer be shirked by them. This is absolutely the right decision and a victory for sufferers of mesothelioma and other industrial diseases. No amount of money can compensate for the suffering caused by mesothelioma but sufferers need to know that their families will be provided for after their death. 

The Supreme Court ruled that the disease could be said to have been "sustained" by an employee in the period when it was caused or initiated, even though it only developed or manifested itself later. 

Chair of JUAC, Julie Winn, commented:

‘We are delighted that the Supreme Court has rejected the arguments put forward by the insurance companies, who for too long has denied compensation to victims of this terrible disease.’

Further information:

JUAC is a trade union campaigning committee comprising the six main education unions: Association of School and College Leaders; Association of Teachers and Lecturers; National Association of Head Teachers; NASUWT; National Union of Teachers; Voice; plus the education sections of Unite, UNISON, UCATT and the GMB: www.juac.org.uk. The Group has the objective of making all UK schools and colleges safe from the dangers of asbestos. All the unions in JUAC are members of the Asbestos in Schools (AIS) campaign.

AISis a campaigning and pressure non-party political group of organisations and individuals with an interest in making schools safe from the dangers of asbestos. The aim of the AiS is to make United Kingdom schools safe from the dangers of asbestos both for staff and pupils: www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk.

Contacts:

Voice:

Press Office
Email: pressoffice@voicetheunion.org.uk

Solicitor David Brierley
Email: davidbrierley@voicetheunion.org.uk

Tel: 01332 372 337
Web: www.voicetheunion.org.uk/asbestos

Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC):

JUAC Chair Julie Winn:
Email: julie.winn@juac.org.uk
Web: Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) website

Asbestos in Schools (AiS):

Michael Lees, AIS founder
Email: ml@asbestosexposureschools.co.uk
Web: www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk