Six-figure settlement after death of Wirral husband and father from mesothelioma

The man, who we have called James, worked at Gandy Belting Ltd in Wallasey during the mid to late 1960s, where he manufactured asbestos belts.

James’s role saw him weave asbestos thread through looms to make the belts, which would have exposed him to substantial amounts of the substance.  

Following retirement, when his family say he was still fit and healthy, James began to experience symptoms such as breathlessness in February 2022.  

His condition became rapidly more severe in the following months, with mesothelioma suspected as the cause, and he died in April 2022. A post-mortem examination confirmed the disease as the cause of death. 

Following his death, James’s family instructed asbestos team lawyers from Leigh Day who brought a claim against his former employer Gandy Belting Limited, which admitted liability but disputed the amount of compensation due. 

James had been the primary carer for his wife, who is registered blind, and provided support for their disabled son, meaning the family would need significantly more support following James’s death.  

After a lengthy court process, James’s former employers settled in the days prior to a damages hearing, agreeing to pay £400,000.  

James’s family and their legal team at Leigh Day believe it is possible that a considerable number of workers may have also been exposed at James’s former workplace.  

James and his family were advised and supported throughout their ordeal by the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group.  

Leigh Day partner Joanne Candlish, who represents James’s family, said: 

“James’s mesothelioma acted incredibly quickly, and he passed away from the disease just a couple of months after initially noticing symptoms. As a result, this ordeal was a particularly terrible one for James and his family, who relied heavily on him for care and support. Not only have they lost a beloved husband and father, but they now find themselves in a difficult position of needing extra care support. After a long and drawn-out court process, we are pleased to have achieved a high settlement sum for James’s family, which we hope will be able to help them access the extra support they now need.”