Miners rights are upheld by winning a landmark Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) case against the British Coal Corporation.
At Imperium Law we recently settled a landmark compensation claim case against British Coal, bringing access to justice for many sick and elderly miners.
Philip Jackson, one of our partners, acted for the successful claimant in RB v British Coal Corporation. This claim formed part of the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation, which was the largest ever personal injury action in the United Kingdom.
Our solicitors can help you make a claim for compensation.
The claimant, who was employed by the National Coal Board for over 20 years, suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This illness was the result of his exposure to coal dust whilst working at the Golborne Colliery in Greater Manchester.
It was the first case to be allowed since the closure of the Coal Health Compensation Scheme on the 31st March 2004. It was a landmark case enabling miners, who thought they were too late to bring claims, to pursue their own industrial disease claims for compensation.
Many more miners now have hope that their own industrial disease claims will be settled.
Despite strong resistance from British Coal solicitors, Mrs Justice Swift, sitting in the High Court, determined that it was in the interests of justice for the claimant’s case to be allowed to proceed. There was evidence that the claimant was not aware that he was suffering from COPD until after the 31st March 2004 cut off. Following this landmark decision, British Coal decided to settle out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Philip Jackson commented: "This settlement really is a triumph! Not only has my client received the compensation which he so rightly deserves, and badly needs, but it opens the door for other miners who have endured the conditions in these collieries, and are now suffering the consequences " he explained.
Miners who have only recently noticed symptoms, or who have perhaps only been diagnosed in the last three years, may now be entitled to make a claim,
Why choose Imperium Law to handle your compensation claim?
Imperium Law were founded in 2005 by partners Philip Jackson and Christopher Ward, We work on a No Win No Fee basis and we specialise in personal injury and industrial disease litigation.
Our aim is to get you the highest compensation payout possible.
We represent a wide variety of clients, including those involved in the textile and steel industries, as well as dock workers and other heavy industry employees.
Call us on 0800 633 5730 and speak to a solicitor to access your claim for compensation.