JUAC welcomes landmark ruling 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.’
For further information, please contact Julie Winn, Chair of JUAC on 0113 297 9862.
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Notes to Editors:
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: http://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.
