Jonathan West

Born in 1934, the client worked in collieries for 21 years, starting at 15 years’ old. Afterward, he moved to Sheepbridge Sintered Products Limited, where brake linings and self-changing gears etc. were produced.

During his time there, the client was exposed to a lot of asbestos dust, due to mixing, drilling and sweeping in the area where he worked.  He was not provided with any protective clothing or masks.

He left Sheepbridge Sintered Products Limited for a week, but went back for four and a half more years before returning to a colliery for five and a half years until redundancy in 1985/86.

He has not worked since then.

About five or six years ago, the client developed breathing difficulties. In April 2023, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos-related pleural plaques.

EMAST referred the client to Graysons, and Jonathan took up the case.  From the client’s HMRC record, Jonathan was able to clearly identify that Sheepbridge Sintered Products Ltd. was the only place where the client had been exposed to asbestos.

Expert evidence was gained from a consultant in respiratory medicine to support the client’s case.

Jonathan’s investigations found that Sheepbridge Sintered Products is now part of GKN Hardy Spicer Ltd., and he pursued that company. Liability was denied, so Jonathan issued court proceedings.

Sadly, the client passed away, and his widow replaced him as the claimant. Jonathan amended and reissued court papers, but he was able to use his significant experience and negotiating skills to achieve settlement of around £100,000. The settlement went to the client’s estate.

If you are suffering illness that has been caused by exposure to asbestos at work and you wish to discuss your case with one of our experts, contact us now.  We will arrange a free of charge meeting, at which we can let you know the likelihood of success of a claim.  You can also contact us if you wish to make a claim on behalf of someone who has died.  You can find out more about making a claim for and asbestos-related disease or other industrial disease on our website.

Author: Jonathan West, partner.