Mesothelioma

"I just think everyone should be treated equally," said 56-year-old Mrs Coles.

"But to be honest, the money means nothing to me - no amount can make up for losing Jim." A pipe fitter and father of two, Jim served 44 years at the Metro-Cammell yard in Washwood Heath where he used to scrape asbestos off pipes by hand.

Story continues ADVERTISEMENT But after more than four decades he was made redundant in 2004 and within two days was diagnosed with the inoperable disease.

He died aged 60.

"He was in agony for 13 months," added Mrs Coles, "he suffered terribly.

I'm still devastated - to me they've robbed him of his life and robbed me of mine." Lawyers acting for Mrs Coles won the settlement from Metro-Cammell's insurers last November, two years after Jim was diagnosed.

The sum was agreed by conference call hours before the case was due to be heard at Birmingham County Court.

Ian McFall, head of asbestos policy at Thompsons Solicitors, said: "The law must be changed to ensure families in England and Wales are entitled to the same level of compensation for bereavement as the equivalent family in Scotland." Top Printable version Copyright and Trade Mark Notice © owned by or licensed to Midland Newspapers Limited 2007 icSolihull™ is a tra...

Read more...