Asbestos Compensation Ruling Reversal Celebrated -- MesoLink.org -- 06-14-06

The Justice for Asbestos Victims group was celebrating in Ulster, Ireland, earlier this week after it was announced that a recent ruling affecting the rights of widows to claim full compensation for the asbestos related death of their partners is to be overturned.

Recently law lords had tried to pass a bill that would make it very difficult for widows that had lost their husbands to an asbestos related disease to claim the full compensation to which they would normally be entitled. The proposed laws caused both outrage and concern among victim groups and those affected by the ruling.

The announcement that the ruling is to be overturned was made by the prime minister, and the Justice for Asbestos Victims group thinks that the reversal of the ruling will make things far fairer for the victims affected by this issue. Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke at a conference in Blackpool last week, where he stated that he hoped to change the ruling through legislation.

A spokesperson from the JAV stated: “Clearly any change would be welcome. Any support that the government can give to the widows of these victims would be welcome.”