Barbara Richmond - asbestos

The firm acted for Barbara Richmond, the widow of Andrew Richmond who worked as a lorry driver for a local company.  As part of his job, during the 1970s, Andrew had to collect and deliver asbestos powder in bags from various ports around the country and deliver it to factories who manufactured asbestos products. 

Frequently the bags of powdered asbestos were split or broken, and Andrew came into contact with asbestos powder.  Nearly 40 years later, Andrew contracted mesothelioma (a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure) and passed away within 6 months of contracting the disease.  

The claim was brought on behalf of his widow by his two executors and difficulty was experienced in tracing Andrew’s employers who had since died and whose business had been wound up, and furthermore an insurance policy which would cover the relevant period.  

Due to Birkett Long’s local connections, the executors of the estate of Andrew's employers were contacted and a relevant insurer and policy were traced, and the matter was settled out of Court for the sum of £132,500.