New bill will be a gateway for workers with pleural plaques from asbestos to file lawsuits

A new bill is scheduled to be unveiled in Scotland that will entitle shipyard workers and others in the country to bring lawsuits if they contracted an asbestos-related condition called pleural plaques, a scarring of the lungs, reported the Scotsman on June 22, 2008.

The move is set to trigger a fight with insurers this week as it will effectively overturn a ruling preventing asbestos workers claiming millions of dollars of compensation for the condition.

The ruling will help hundreds of men – mostly former workers in shipyards – who suffer from diseases such as mesothelioma, a condition which people with pleural plaques from asbestos are prone to develop.

The government ruled last year that former workers with pleural plaques were not entitled to compensation because the condition itself is not a disease.

From shipfitters, pipefitters and demolition workers, to those toiling on railroads and in construction, Weitz & Luxenberg has many clients whose needless and entirely avoidable exposure to asbestos ultimately led to them developing asbestos-related diseases.

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading plaintiffs' law firm that has represented people affected by mesothelioma for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease. If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form on this page, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.