Plessey Electrical Engineer claims following mesothelioma diagnosis.

RWK Goodman’s specialist mesothelioma solicitors were instructed by Mr M following his diagnosis of mesothelioma, Mr M worked for The Plessey Company Limited from 1967.

The Plessey Company Limited was founded in 1917 and expanded after the Second World War with various acquisitions and mergers, including Ericsson Telephones Limited and The Automatic Telephone and Electric Company Limited (AT&E), giving Plessey a major share of the British telecoms market. A key role in the development of the new technology was the manufacture of semiconductor transistors, which were invented in the late 1940s.

In 1957 Plessey opened a new factory at Cheney Manor in Swindon. By the mid-1960s more than 5,000 workers were employed at Plessey, Swindon across three sites.

Each site was essentially a large factory including offices and research and development areas. The factories were heated with steam pipes lagged with asbestos, and the roof and walls outside also had asbestos sheets.

Mr M worked for Plessey as an electronics engineer and was initially based in Hampshire. He was based in a laboratory/office environment and tested various components made by the company in the factory.

He was transferred to the Plessey Cheney Manor premises in Swindon in 1969 to assist with the design of a new microchip. His work was based in the drawings and design offices at the factory.

In 2018 Mr M had experienced spells of breathlessness and had initially thought it was some form of condition linked to the COPD he had. However, as the symptoms persisted his condition was investigated further, and a CT scan was arranged. The scan revealed fluid in the pleural cavity and a collapsed lung. These are two symptoms of mesothelioma, so a biopsy was organised which unfortunately confirmed that he had developed pleural mesothelioma.

Soon after this, his consultant advised that he should seek compensation and he contacted our specialist mesothelioma and asbestos disease solicitors. One of our specialists - Jennifer Seavor - had represented claimants from Plessey previously and was instructed by Mr M.

Although Mr M had not worked directly with asbestos, he was sometimes in the vicinity of those that did. Specifically, some general maintenance work and refurbishment that had been carried out in the offices where he worked.

He also mixed in the canteen with many hundreds of other workers from all over the Cheney Manor premises. It is likely that some of these employees would have had asbestos dust on their clothing.

Jennifer managed to locate a number of fellow workers at Plessey who were there at the same time as Mr M. Evidence was obtained from several witnesses, including one key witness who recalled a refurbishment of the offices where Mr M worked and the removal of asbestos ceiling tiles. This would have created dust, including asbestos fibres that could have been breathed in by Mr M.

Very sadly, Mr M passed away before the conclusion of his claim against Plessey. His widow, Mrs M continued with the claim.

The insurers of Plessey did not admit liability immediately, arguing that there was not enough asbestos exposure. Medical evidence was then obtained and our solicitors issued court proceedings. Just prior to the hearing to determine Mr M’s claim, Plessey made a 6 figure offer that Mrs M decided to accept.

This case is another example of an increasing number of claims where a small amount of asbestos exposure has caused mesothelioma. Mr M never worked directly with asbestos and wasn't obviously in contact with those who did. He was an office based electrical engineer who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

On conclusion of the case, Mrs M said:

"I would highly recommend Jennifer Seavor of RWK Goodman. My husband became ill with mesothelioma in 2018 and sadly died in 2019. Jennifer called to see us at our home to gather any information she could regarding our claim against my husband's ex employers. She was generous with her time and was always at the end of a phone.

This case was a complicated one and Jennifer dealt with the various problems with speed and efficiency, explaining everything to me in great detail. I shall always remember her kindness and empathy after my husband had died and the way she guided me through that terrible time with such compassion resulting in a substantial settlement."