Family of Stroud Man who Died of Asbestos Related Cancer Appeal for Help

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Anthony Waddington

Partner, Industrial Disease Claims

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Joan Stallon, a widow to David Stallon wants to hear from people who worked at the former Fibrecrete or the Woodchester Industrial Estates during the 1980s and 1990s.

The whole family are devastated by the loss of their beloved father and husband, which was from asbestos-related cancer. They are appealing for people who may have worked with him at either the former Fibrecrete or the Woodchester Industrial Estates to come forward with any information about how he might have come into contact with asbestos whilst at work.

David Stallon from Eastcombe, Stroud, died less than a year after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma at Cheltenham General Hospital on the 23rd of December 2019– a terminal illness that affects the lining of the lungs. He was just 66 years old.

The former maintenance worker and engineer endured six cycles of chemotherapy, before he sadly passed away on the 15th of November 2020, leaving behind his devastated wife Joan.

She has now instructed expert industrial disease lawyers at Simpson Millar to help determine when and where he was exposed to the deadly asbestos fibres, and whether more could have been done to protect him.

They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have information about the working conditions at Payne Plastics where he had worked between 1984 and 1993, or anyone who worked for any of the other businesses located at both the Chalford and Woodchester industrial estates during this time.

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To find out more about how we can help following a work-related cancer diagnosis, get in touch with our industrial disease team.

Statement from David Prior To His Death

In the statement produced for his lawyers, David had said that he was regularly exposed to clouds of dust that he believed contained asbestos at both sites.

Speaking before his death, David described his working environment at Chalford as ‘dusty, cold and damp’, and that he regularly came into contact with asbestos building products that had been left around the site by the previous tenants, the asbestos building products business Fibrecrete Limited.

When working at Woodchester Industrial Estate as a practical engineer, he would oversee the cutting of the Asbestolux sheets and the bending of plastic on home-made heater bars.

He said that during the hotter months everything on the estate would be covered with a white film, with ‘asbestos dust swirling and blowing everywhere’. He claimed he was never warned of the dangers of cutting the Asbestolux sheets, meaning that his employer lacked the duty of care that should be in place.

Speaking on behalf of the family their lawyer, industrial disease expert from Simpson Millar, said: “Before his death Mr Stallon instructed us to investigate whether more could, and should, have been done to protect him from asbestos exposure during his working life.

“Sadly, he has now passed away without the answers he so desperately sought, but his wife and family are committed to carrying on his battle for justice."

"On their behalf we are now asking for anyone who worked at Payne Plastics Ltd between 1984 and 1993 to please come forward with information, or anyone else who worked at either the Charlford Industrial Estate or the Woodchester Industrial Estate with knowledge of the conditions at these sites. Likewise, if you had a family member who worked for the company at this time, please do get in touch."

A solicitor from our Industrial Disease team said, "While the dangers of asbestos have been known for many decades, there are still, sadly, many pple dying prematurely because of asbestos-related ilnesses, because they were not made aware of its presence and provided with protective equipment."

The family's solicitor states that workplace negligence regarding employee exposure to asbestos has a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of people every year.

She said: “Mesothelioma alone contributes to 2,500 deaths annually and this is a figure that continues to increase and devastate the lives of victims as well as their families."

How Simpson Millar Can Help

The law can be complicated, but we do everything in our power to make it straightforward for you and help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. We almost always operate mesothelioma claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, which can ease any financial worries you may have about your claim.

For many of our clients, the legal process is dealt with within weeks of diagnosis through the Veterans Agency or Mesothelioma Payment Scheme. This takes away so much stress and is a quick, almost rubber stamp process, allowing lump sums of compensation to be paid out quickly so that our clients can make their own financial arrangements whilst they are well enough to do so.

We understand that working with a Solicitor may seem daunting, and that feeling often isn’t helped by the legal jargon so we’ll always speak to you in straightforward terms. Call us on 0808 239 0144 and let us, help you.

References:

National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Asbestos exposure and cancer risk. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos

Cancer Research UK. (n.d.). Mesothelioma - Cancer Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/mesothelioma

Mesothelioma.com. (n.d.). Pleural Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/types/pleural/

Asbestos.com. (n.d.). Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/peritoneal/

Mesothelioma.com. (n.d.). Pericardial Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/types/pericardial/

Asbestos.com. (n.d.). Testicular Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/testicular/

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Chemotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/about/pac-20385033

Payne Plastics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.payneplastics.co.uk/

Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). Causation of mesothelioma and asbestosis in Great Britain. Retrieved from https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/index.htm

Asbestos Justice. (n.d.). Asbestos Witness Appeal Needed – Asbestosis Claim Fibrecrete Limited. Retrieved from https://www.asbestosjustice.co.uk/asbestos-witness-appeal-needed-asbestosis-claim-fibrecrete-limited/

Anthony Waddington

Partner, Industrial Disease Claims

Areas of Expertise:
Industrial Disease

Anthony is a Partner in our Industrial Disease department and specialises in high value Industrial Disease Claims.

He joined Simpson Millar as a Paralegal in 2006, and completed his training contract three years later, working in Simpson Millar's Industrial Disease, Civil Litigation and Personal Injury departments.

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