J. M. Parsons & Co.
Solicitors specialising in claims handling.
First Floor, Mallard House, 1 Upper Park Street, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, SA15 3YN

Change in Asbestos Claim Law

New asbestos laws aimed at making compensation claims easier have been welcomed by a Llanelli-based expert. The move has come after a Law Lords ruling in May looked to have made life difficult for those affected by the asbestos-related mesothelioma cancer.

However, after being lobbied by MPs including Llanelli's Nia Griffith, Tony Blair said he wanted to change the law which had the effect of limiting compensation pay-outs.

Also, at the end last month, the Compensation Act 2006 came into force, which reset the balance in favour of sufferers by allowing full claims to be made against a restricted number of employers, even though several more could also have been at fault.

Llanelli solicitor Jeff Parsons has almost 25 years of experience in dealing with industrial-related diseases.

From his Upper Park Street office he specialises in asbestos cases.

He said: "It's a very welcome move - these people now have hope of obtaining justice.

"The Law Lords' case made it grossly unfair because it placed the onus on the victims.

"It forced them into having to find all the employers who could have been behind the asbestos exposure.

"This would have been made all the more difficult had people been seriously ill."

Dr Michael Thomas, of Wales's National Public Health Service (NPHS), said mesothelioma figures for Llanelli were unavailable.