Widow Carole Devoy sues for a record £1m damages

Jun 13 2009 by Katy Simpson, The Journal

The disease and the compensation

ASBESTOSIS is a benign lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibres which cause scarring and thickening to the lung tissues.

It normally only affects people who have been exposed to a lot of asbestos over a long period of time.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen caused only by exposure to asbestos. There is no known cure for mesothelioma.

Average compensation payouts are around £30,000 to £35,000. Victims who were negligently exposed to asbestos and developed pleural plaques, a scarring of the lungs which can lead to deadly conditions, have been entitled to compensation since the 1980s.

In 2006 the Lords cut the amount of compensation payable to those suffering from mesothelioma, making it harder to bring a successful case against employers where there had been asbestos exposure with more than one company. That ruling was later overturned.