Successful mesothelioma claim for retired cabinet maker

David Hammett was exposed to asbestos when working as an apprentice cabinet maker for E F Mills & Son in Colchester between about 1958 and 1963.  The main business of the firm was to make luxury mobile homes, many for fairground and circus people. The homes were known as Compton Caravans because of the site where this work was done. They were fitted out to a very high standard and had fireplaces which were lined with asbestos sheets.

The business no longer exists and the owner passed away some years ago. Mr Hammett instructed Fieldfisher to pursue a claim for his mesothelioma, was able to trace the relevant insurers from a previous claim that was successfully conducted by Fieldfisher.

Mr Hammett was also exposed to asbestos doing carpentry work on housing estates for Sir Lindsay Parkinson and H C James in the 1960s. His exposure to asbestos by sawing, drilling and fixing asbestos materials without any respiratory protection in all of this work caused his mesothelioma which was diagnosed in October 2013.

The claim was settled in March 2015.

Mr Hammett said:

"I would like to thank Caroline for all her help and kindness in pursuing my claim and achieving a very successful result. After 50 years of marriage my wife Delphine and I are so grateful that this award makes our future together secure. Our anniversary present to ourselves was a trip to Rome which was so much more enjoyable after receiving the news from Caroline about the award just before we were due to leave."