May 15th, 2007

The widow of a UK man that died from asbestos related disease has received almost fifty thousand GBP (nearly USD $100,000) in compensation. Arthur Wolverson worked as an asbestos lagger, and left the factory where he was exposed to asbestos around forty-five years ago. He died in April 2005 at sixty-four years of age after he developed asbestos related cancer.

Mr. Wolverson worked for a company in the Wolverhampton area of the West Midlands between 1959 and 1962. He developed the asbestos related cancer mesothelioma decades after leaving – this form of cancer has a very long latency period of twenty to forty years on average. The insurers of the company that he worked for have paid out forty-seven thousand pounds to his widow.

A lawyer for the plaintiff stated: “The pressure on relatives in cases like this is very great. Often the loss of the spouse’s pension leaves widows in a desperate financial situation. Mrs. Wolverson is still very upset about her loss and cannot come to terms with what has happened.”

Despite the payout medical evidence will still be presented in court to determine the end amount that Mr. Wolverson's widow will receive. A lawyer working for the insurance company stated: “Breach of duty and medical causation have been conceded and we are in the process of awaiting further information to enable us to quantify the claim.”