Victim of asebstos cancer, mesothelioma
Lawyers acting for a former Cape Factory maintenance worker who died a tragic and painful death from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma are working alongside his widow in a desperate attempt to trace his co-workers.
John William Stanley, who died in November 2005 aged 81, worked at the Cape Factory in Iver Lane, Cowley, Uxbridge between 1948 and 1989 when he retired.
The late Mr Stanley, known as ‘Jack’ to family and friends, worked on the maintenance of machinery and boilers. He died as a result of contracting the deadly asbestos lung cancer mesothelioma.
Exposure to asbestos lead to workers contracting asbestos-related illnesses
The Cape Asbestos Company, now Cape Plc, once the UK’s second largest asbestos group, employed hundreds of men at the Uxbridge site to make asbestos boards. In 1949 the medical officer at the site reported 115 fatal cases in which asbestosis was mentioned, and provided evidence of lung and pleural cancers accompanying it. The average age of death was 40.8 years.
Cape has been the focus of a high profile campaign both in the UK and South Africa to force it to properly compensate the thousands of lives it has blighted.
Thompsons Solicitors, who specialise in asbestos-related diseases, needs to trace Mr Stanley’s co-workers in order to get more details about this environment which he was forced to work in. Information from former workmates is needed to support a claim for compensation for his devastated widow and the family he has left behind.
His widow Mary Stanley explains: “Jack was a beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather. But for the negligence of his employer, he would still be here today to enjoy a well earned retirement and see his grandchildren grow up.”
“Although I can never bring Jack back again I would like justice on his behalf. The Cape Factory continued to expose him to asbestos when they knew of the risks or ought to have known of the risks that were involved.”
Andrew Venn from Thompsons Solicitors comments: “Mesothelioma is a terrible illness caused by employers’ disregard for their workers’ lives. Asbestos-related diseases will cause 10,000 deaths a year by 2010 and will be the biggest industrial killer of all time. It is important that we trace Jack Stanley’s co-workers, not because compensation will make up for his death, but to ensure that those people who forced him to work in such deadly conditions pay for what they did.”
If you worked at the Cape Factory during the 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s, or if you have family or friends who did, please contact Lorna Webster at Thompsons on 08000 224 224.
Asbestos disease diagnosis? Talk to us for advice and support on how to secure compensation.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we can support you with advice on how to make a claim.
The process will be explained in plain English and with no obligation – our priority is to provide you with the best, expert advice on whether you have a valid case for compensation, and to signpost you to further sources of support.
There are strict time limits applied to making a claim – usually three years from the date of diagnosis. It doesn’t matter if the exposure to asbestos took place – as it often does – decades ago, the three year time limit applies to the date of knowledge of diagnosis or date of death.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.