Widow of Frederick Sage & Co joiner secures damages following her husband’s death

Mrs M instructed RWK Goodman shortly after Mr M had passed away from mesothelioma.

Mr M had deteriorated very rapidly following his diagnosis and hadn’t been able to give a lifetime statement, although he had described his work history to his wife and the Specialists Benefits Advisors at HASAG.

Mrs M had met her husband while he was working as a carpenter/joiner for Frederick Sage and Co and was able to provide a detailed statement describing the conversations that she had had with him about his working history.

Mr M had advanced dementia at the time that he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, but he was able to vividly described cutting up asbestos insulating board in a joinery shop with a bench saw and out on site with handsaws. Frederick Sage & Co Limited were a specialist firm of shop fitters who used a great deal of asbestos insulating board to fit the petition walls for shops, displays and display cabinets where there was strong electrical lighting that carried a high risk of fire within the shops.

Despite his advanced dementia, Mr M was able to recall working on the fitting out of the first Playboy Club in London.

While Mr M was able to provide a very detailed witness statement about the work history that her husband provided to her, it was not until witness statements from other claims against Frederick Sage & Co Limited, provided that liability was admitted. The case was settled for a six figure sum to represent Mrs M’s dependency upon her husband’s income, as Mrs M had given up work to care for her husband following his diagnosis with dementia and also for Mr M's pain and suffering resulting from contracting malignant mesothelioma.