Asbestos Compensation Secured For Widow of Chemistry Lecturer
21/12/2010
The widow of a chemistry lecturer, who died as a result of experiments that he had performed whilst using asbestos based equipment, secured justice today.
Mary Sellwood, the widow James Baden Sellwood, who died of mesothelioma aged 73, today secured an interim payment, with significant damages due to be agreed in the New Year after a court heard shocking details of laboratory experiments involving the use of asbestos.
Mr Sellwood, it emerged, was performing experiments on the recommendation of an approved chemistry course book in the 1970s, which advocated the use of asbestos mats, gauzes, wool, paper and rope in a large number of laboratory experiments.
Mr Sellwood was employed as a senior lecturer at York St John University from 1963 to 1975 before becoming Principal Lecturer in Chemistry. He later transferred to the Administration Department as Deputy Registrar and finally Academic Registrar, before his retirement in 1992. He passed away in November 2008.
Isobel Lovett, an associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell with specialist expertise in asbestos compensation claims, has secured judgment for Mr Sellwood’s wife, Mary.
Isobel said: “As a senior chemistry lecturer, Mr Sellwood would regularly use asbestos materials and items of equipment containing asbestos, to demonstrate experiments to student chemistry teachers who in turn would carry out these demonstrations in school lessons.
“As these products were used and their condition deteriorated, they released lethal dust into the air. Mr Sellwood was totally oblivious as to the dangers of using these materials and as he was not supplied with any form of respiratory equipment, it was inevitable that he would inhale the deadly particles.
“Unfortunately we are beginning to see more and more work-related cases where innocent men and women whom you would not necessarily associate with coming into regular contact with asbestos are beginning to develop asbestos-related illnesses.
“For too long employers were able to needlessly expose their staff to dangerous substances such as asbestos without providing even a basic level of protection. It is only now, decades later, that we are truly learning the extent of the exposure and how many innocent victims are having their lives torn apart by their former employers’ negligence.”
Mrs Sellwood added: “Jim and I were both devastated when he received his diagnosis. Before his death Jim remarked on the irony that the subject he loved and his role in imparting knowledge to students is what would ultimately kill him.
“Neither of us could believe that a substance which Jim worked with so many years ago could suddenly re-enter his life and have such devastating effects – within nine months of first experiencing symptoms Jim was taken from us. I never imagined it would happen so quickly and I was absolutely shattered when he died.
“The settlement will not bring back my husband, but I am pleased that the organisation which Jim loyally worked for over forty years have recognised the conditions that led to his death.”
Mr Sellwood’s former employer has been ordered to pay an interim payment with a substantial settlement to be agreed in the New Year.
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