How we secured a mesothelioma settlement for Kim after exposure to asbestos in the 1980s.
Find out how our specialist mesothelioma solicitors helped Kim secure compensation after she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, over 40 years after her exposure to asbestos as an employee at Tate & Lyle.
When Kim looks back on her life before her diagnosis, she remembers sunshine, happiness, and a retirement lived to the fullest. Having moved to Egypt to enjoy the next chapter of her life, she describes those years as “living the dream.” But everything changed in May 2023 when what began as a persistent cough led to a diagnosis that turned her world upside down – epithelioid mesothelioma.
“I underwent a lot of tests,” Kim recalls. “The fluid had to be extracted, not once but twice. Then the pathologist came back to tell me it was mesothelioma. I didn’t even know what that was – I’d never heard of it.”
The diagnosis came as a complete shock. She had never knowingly worked with asbestos and had no reason to believe she had been exposed. But as she began to look back at her working life, a clearer picture started to emerge.
Kim was exposed to asbestos during her employment at the Tate & Lyle syrup site at Plaistow Wharf on the River Thames, where she worked in the distribution department building alongside six colleagues. Her role was primarily administrative, involving both paper-based and computer-based tasks.
At the time, extensive renovation works were being carried out on the site. Although Kim was not directly involved in handling asbestos, she was regularly working in close proximity to tradesmen and construction workers during these renovations. This led to her indirect exposure to asbestos fibres, disturbed by the renovation. “We were in a room that was being refurbished,” she says. “To us, it just looked like normal wood dust. We didn’t realise it was asbestos that was actually flying around, contaminating us.”
Finding support after mesothelioma diagnosis
After she returned to the UK to start treatment for her mesothelioma, Kim focused on understanding her condition and finding the right support. It was then that she was introduced to HASAG Asbestos Disease Support, a charity that provides invaluable guidance to those affected by asbestos-related illnesses.
HASAG provided Kim with a list of recommended specialist mesothelioma solicitors. After considering her options, she chose RWK Goodman to help with her compensation claim, feeling that our experience in complex asbestos claims and our approachable manner made us the right fit to support her through the legal process.
“When the lady from HASAG came to see us, she went through everything with us. It was a door opening for me – I’d never heard of mesothelioma before, and I didn’t know where to start. But meeting the team gave me hope and understanding of what was actually going on.”
Bringing a claim for compensation
Kim worked closely with Annabelle Neilson, Partner and specialist asbestos disease solicitor at RWK Goodman. “Annabelle came to visit us and must have spent a couple of hours going through everything. I produced as much paperwork as I could, and communication was fantastic. She’s a lovely lady,” Kim says.
Kim’s case presented a number of complexities. Her exposure was not occupational in the traditional sense, and there was initially little documentation available confirming the presence of asbestos on the Plaistow Wharf site. However, following extensive investigations, our specialist mesothelioma claims team located historic records. These records demonstrated the presence of asbestos extensively across the Tate & Lyle site. As a result of these investigations, the defendant admitted liability.
An additional challenge in Kim’s case was that, due to her diagnosis, she was forced to relocate back to the UK after having been living overseas for many years prior to her diagnosis. The move incurred significant relocation costs. Despite the complexity, we successfully recovered these expenses as part of the claim.
The difference the settlement made
Kim describes the result as life-changing. “I’m one of the fortunate ones to have been able to get compensation. The money helps – it’s helping me with my medication and has allowed me to go private. I’m getting better treatment now than I would on the NHS, and my doctor is a specialist in mesothelioma. The knowledge he has is incredible, and he’s really taken me on board.”
Although no amount of compensation can restore health or lost time, Kim says the claim has brought her both practical support and peace of mind. “Yes, the money helps, but what I want is my life – I’d love another 20-odd years. That’s not going to happen but having this support makes a real difference.”
Kim’s message to other mesothelioma patients
Today, Kim is open about her experience and passionate about helping others who may be going through something similar. Her advice is clear: “If anyone has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, seek advice. Go to RWK Goodman, go to HASAG, speak to the nurses who know these charities and legal teams that can help. There might be compensation available – you just don’t know until you ask.”
She adds, “There’s nothing Annabelle and her team ever said they couldn’t do – there was always a way forward. I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me and the journey they’ve taken me through.”
We are proud to have supported Kim and to have played a part in helping her access the treatment, care, and financial security she deserves. Her strength and positivity are truly inspirational, and her story serves as a reminder of why our work matters, ensuring that those affected by asbestos exposure receive justice, understanding, and hope for the future.
If you have developed mesothelioma you may be wondering whether you have a claim for compensation. If that is the case, our specialist mesothelioma claim solicitors are here to help.
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