Widow sues over asbestos claim
The widow of a Wolverhampton man who suffered a painful death following exposure to asbestos is suing his former company for £100,000. The widow of a Wolverhampton man who suffered a painful death following exposure to asbestos is suing his former company for £100,000. Arthur Wolverson, aged 64, died from of the aggressive lung cancer mesothelioma. He worked as a insulation lagger at LR Burrows & Co in Landport Road, Monmore Green, for three years between 1959 and 1962. His widow, 62-year-old Audrey Wolverson, of Mansard Close, Wednesfield, has now started a legal battle for damages having instructed lawyers to go to the High Court in London and serve a writ on the firm. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Arthur Wolverson, aged 64, died from of the aggressive lung cancer mesothelioma. He worked as a insulation lagger at LR Burrows & Co in Landport Road, Monmore Green, for three years between 1959 and 1962.
His widow, 62-year-old Audrey Wolverson, of Mansard Close, Wednesfield, has now started a legal battle for damages having instructed lawyers to go to the High Court in London and serve a writ on the firm.
Speaking on behalf of the family, solicitor Terry Loughrey said today: "This is an extremely aggressive and painful form of cancer.
"It normally takes six to 12 months from diagnosis to death but in Mr Wolverson's case, it was extremely aggressive. There is no treatment or cure and the family are devastated and still in mourning."
Mr Wolverson's deterioration started with breathlessness in February 2005. On April 1, he was diagnosed as having mesothelioma and died on April 27.
Mr Loughrey, who specialises in asbestos cases, said: "Mr Wolverson would have had significant exposure to asbestos because his duty was to remove crumbling old asbestos from boilers and pipes and mix new paste from powder to replace it. He did all this without breathing protection."
LR Burrows & Co has until April 13 to respond to the writ either by admitting liability or denying it. Mr Loughrey said: "On average, 3,000 people a year die because of mesothelioma in the UK and this figure is only expected to rise in the next 10-20 years because so many workers were exposed, especially in the West Midlands, the heart of England's industry.
"Ninety to ninety-five per cent of mesothelioma cases are the direct result of exposure to asbestos and it can even affect firemen who have cleared buildings containing asbestos and wives who washed the clothes of workers who were expose."
Darius Burrows, managing director of L R Burrows, said today: "Some 50 years ago the dangers of working with asbestos were not apparent. A couple of generations later and people are developing diseases related to this. We would like to pass our condolences to the Wolverson family."
