Anthony chases asbestos cases
MANCHESTER lawyer Anthony Coombs has set up his own practice to race against time for victims of asbestos-related cancer.
The 50-year-old has quit as a partner at city centre firm John Pickering & Partners, after 20 years, to specialise in claims for people suffering from mesothelioma.
It is caused by tiny fibres of asbestos dust being inhaled. They stick to the delicate lining of the lungs and cause irritation. Cancer develops over a long period, sometimes up to 60 years. But there is no cure and most victims die within 18 months of being diagnosed with the illness.
Fast-track
Mr Coombs, who is based in Didsbury, said about 1,800 people die from mesothelioma each year in the UK, but the figure is forecast to rise to 2,500 over the next decade. Damages are sought from former employers.
He said today: "The cases have to be dealt with very quickly because the life expectancy of clients is limited.
"There is even talk of a fast-track system in the Manchester courts to deal with them.
"I act for people who regularly handled or came into contact with asbestos, such as those employed in the construction industry, laggers, thermal engineers, power station and shipbuilding workers. They were probably handling asbestos until the late 1970s, usually without any type of protection.
"It's only now, almost 30 years later, that mesothelioma is starting to hit them.
"We are also seeing increasing numbers of younger men who worked as shopfitters about 20 years ago."
Mr Coombs spent 25 years at John Pickering, 20 of them as a partner handling industrial disease and personal injury claims. His sister, Geraldine, is a solicitor there.
He said: "They are a more general practice and I wanted to do my own thing and specialise. I think there is a need for it, doing a small number of cases very quickly."
A House of Lords ruling in 2002 paved the way for compensation claims on behalf of thousands of former manual workers who are dying from the disease. It has been estimated that payouts could total £200m a year.
The 50-year-old has quit as a partner at city centre firm John Pickering & Partners, after 20 years, to specialise in claims for people suffering from mesothelioma.
It is caused by tiny fibres of asbestos dust being inhaled. They stick to the delicate lining of the lungs and cause irritation. Cancer develops over a long period, sometimes up to 60 years. But there is no cure and most victims die within 18 months of being diagnosed with the illness.
Fast-track
Mr Coombs, who is based in Didsbury, said about 1,800 people die from mesothelioma each year in the UK, but the figure is forecast to rise to 2,500 over the next decade. Damages are sought from former employers.
He said today: "The cases have to be dealt with very quickly because the life expectancy of clients is limited.
"There is even talk of a fast-track system in the Manchester courts to deal with them.
"I act for people who regularly handled or came into contact with asbestos, such as those employed in the construction industry, laggers, thermal engineers, power station and shipbuilding workers. They were probably handling asbestos until the late 1970s, usually without any type of protection.
"It's only now, almost 30 years later, that mesothelioma is starting to hit them.
"We are also seeing increasing numbers of younger men who worked as shopfitters about 20 years ago."
Mr Coombs spent 25 years at John Pickering, 20 of them as a partner handling industrial disease and personal injury claims. His sister, Geraldine, is a solicitor there.
He said: "They are a more general practice and I wanted to do my own thing and specialise. I think there is a need for it, doing a small number of cases very quickly."
A House of Lords ruling in 2002 paved the way for compensation claims on behalf of thousands of former manual workers who are dying from the disease. It has been estimated that payouts could total £200m a year.
posted by Chris Placitella | 9:21 AM
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