Mesothelioma, the cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres, moved up the Government’s agenda following the high-profile case of Barker v Corus last year. There was widespread media interest and outcry from claimants’ representatives when the House of Lords decided that mesothelioma is a divisible injury. This would have resulted in a shortfall of compensation for many claimants when employers are insolvent and insurers not identified.
Since the Compensation Act 2006 came into force and overturned Barker, the insurance industry, legal community and legislators have been discussing changes in the way mesothelioma claims are handled to ensure that compensation is paid more quickly.
