This process created a lot of asbestos dust which unfortunately Tom breathed in because he was not provided with a mask. Furthermore his employers did not warn him about the potential risks to his health from the asbestos dust.
In May 2012 Tom developed pain in his chest. A biopsy was performed in July, following which he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. When the diagnosis was confirmed, Tom instructed our asbestos expert Caroline Pinfold to pursue a claim for compensation against the former employers. Caroline was able to obtain an admission of liability and an interim payment of compensation for him in October 2012 within the space of three months. Additional evidence was obtained and following further negotiations the claim was settled for £137,000 in February 2013.
After the case had concluded Tom had this to say about Caroline Pinfold:
"Caroline was a very pleasant lady to talk to. She worked very hard and was genuinely concerned for me. She worked hard from start to finish and there were no faults. Caroline knew exactly what she was doing. From the very first interview she kept me in the picture right up until the case conclusion. Nothing was ever too much trouble for her. If I didn’t understand anything then she would happily explain things to me patiently. The compensation that Caroline secured for me will help my wife be financially sound when I am no longer around. I have no hesitations in recommending Caroline Pinfold or Fieldfisher."