At last!
Compensation Payments to T&N Asbestos Victims
After a 6 year wait compensation is now being
paid to T&N asbestos victims.
Background
Federal Mogul, a large US company bought T&N in
1998. In 2001, Federal Mogul sought protection from its creditors in Chapter 11
Bankruptcy in the US. T&N immediately went into administration in the UK.
Federal Mogul has continued trading, making improved profits, while asbestos
victims have been denied compensation.
Funds now set
up
A scheme of arrangements has now been voted for,
which will allow compensation to be paid to T&N asbestos victims from two funds.
-
Employers liability insurance fund
This fund will pay compensation
to those who have an asbestos-related disease and who worked for T&N after 1969.
This fund is financed from insurers, Royal SunAlliance and Lloyds, who wrote
employers liability insurance for T&N after 1969. This compensation will be
about 60% of the compensation that would have been paid prior to the company
going into administration.
This fund will pay compensation
to those who have an asbestos-related disease and who worked for T&N before
1969. This compensation will be about 20% of the compensation that would have
been paid prior to the company going into administration.
Asbestosis and Pleural Thickening.
For asbestosis and pleural thickening, asbestos victims who
have service pre and post 1969, the proportion of service post-1969 will be paid
at the higher percentage and the proportion of service pre-1969 will be paid at
the lower percentage.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos-related Lung Cancer
For mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestos
victims who have any service after 1969 will receive the higher rate of
compensation, and also a proportion of the payment for pre-69 exposure.
Comment
While T&N asbestos victims will at last receive some
compensation, this is not a cause for celebration! Had government made employers
liability insurance compulsory prior to 1969, all of T&N asbestos victims would
have been eligible for higher payments. Federal Mogul is making handsome profits
and has improved its place on the Fortune 500 list in the US while T&N asbestos
victims lose most or a substantial part of their compensation.