An 81-year-old woman, who blames exposure to asbestos dust and fibres whilst working as a telephonist for the General Post Office (GPO) many years ago for her incurable cancer, is suing for up to £150,000 in damages.
The woman worked at various telephone exchanges in Cumbria and Lancashire between 1951 and 1970. According to a High Court writ issued by her lawyers, she suffered asbestos exposure whilst cabling and equipment modification work was being carried out. Amongst other things she recalled that clouds of dust had developed when a large hole in an asbestos cement floor was chiselled out to lay new cables.
The woman has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma – a devastating cancer of the lining of the lungs, normally associated with exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma often only becomes apparent decades after the original exposure and there is no cure. Despite intensive treatment, her condition had progressively worsened.
The woman is suing the long defunct GPO’s successors, Royal Mail Group Limited, claiming that her exposure resulted from negligence and breaches of statutory duty. However, the contents of the writ have yet to be tested in evidence before a judge.
If you or a member of your family has suffered as a result of asbestos exposure, visit our dedicated website – www.asbestosisclaims.com – for more information.