Record Injury Compensation Figure For Mesothelioma Widow

A woman from Surrey has received what is thought to be the largest recorded amount of compensation in a mesothelioma case.

The woman has been awarded £310,000 by the High Court after she contracted incurable cancer via her husband’s workplace.

The 66-year-old widow was a dedicated wife to her husband who worked for a well-known electrical company in Guilford for 42 years.

Following his working day, the woman washed and dusted down her husband’s dusty boiler suits by hand, unbeknown that this would be the cause of her terminal illness, mesothelioma.

Her husband died of the same work-related lung cancer last year after his wife spent a year nursing him during his ‘terrific suffering’.

Following her husband’s untimely death, the woman began experiencing the same symptoms as her husband had and she was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2012. She quickly realised the link with washing her husband’s work clothes and her illness.

£310,000 Compensation Granted To Mrs. Haxton

Originally, the woman sought £500,000 in compensation and despite her husband’s former employer admitting liability, it claimed that the amount needed to be reduced to take into account the woman’s diminished life expectancy. The court upheld this sentiment and the award of £310,000 was granted.

The woman is said to have 6 – 12 months to live and she now wishes to spend some of her compensation on going on holiday with her two daughters.

Claiming Compensation

If you feel that you may have cause to make any kind of claim for personal injury compensation (including work and industrial related illnesses, diseases or accidents), Jefferies may be able to help. You are welcome to contact us to discuss your potential case in confidence on the telephone number above. Alternatively, you can complete our initial online claim form and one of our team will come back to you to take more information, in order to be able to advise fully.

You can find out how we help people to make claims for compensation for industrial diseases and illnesses here.

Published on 16th February 2015.