Daughter seeks Asbestos disease compensation

A DAUGHTER who claims her mother died from mesothelioma after washing contaminated overalls, has launched a battle for £100,000 in Asbestos disease compensation.

Alice Watt died aged 77 from an asbestos-related malignant mesothelioma cancer of the tissues surrounding her abdomen or lungs.

It is alleged she developed it after shaking out her husband's asbestos-covered overalls when he returned from work as a shipbuilder.

Now Mrs Watt's daughter Julie Watt, of Brunswick Road, Town End Farm, is suing her father's employers, Appledore Shipbuilders, of Dorchester in Dorset, who she blames for her mother's death.

Mrs Watt died on September 25, 2004, after a year of suffering increasingly bad symptoms, including chest pain, fatigue and breathlessness.

As her condition deteriorated she needed more nursing care, and was very distressed by her condition, according to a writ issued in London's High Court.

Her daughter Miss Watt, says that between 1952 and 1970, her father Robert Watt worked for the company's predecessors, Bartram and Sons Ltd, and regularly came home from work with asbestos contaminated overalls.

These he gave to his wife to shake out and wash, which released large amounts of asbestos dust into their home, which was stirred up into the air when she swept up dry asbestos, the writ says.

Mr Watt worked in the engine rooms and accommodation areas of ships as a shipwright, where his clothes and hair became covered in asbestos dust from stripping of old lagging, mixing of asbestos fibre, spraying of asbestos lagging, and sweeping of asbestos dust, the court will hear.

Possible Asbestos disease compensation for negligence

In the pursuit of Asbestos disease compensation, the writ claims the company was negligent because it failed to warn Mr Watt and other staff of the risks of asbestos, and the steps to take to prevent their families from being exposed to the deadly dust.

It also alleges the company failed to act on expert advice about asbestos, allowed the dust to escape, allowed employees' clothes to become contaminated by asbestos dust, failed to provide washing or showering facilities, and failed to provide laundry facilities, which meant workers had to take overalls home.

If you or someone you know has been effected by asbestos disease, our solicitors can help. Visit the Asbestos disease compensation section.