Asbestos
ABI condemns increased meso compensation
The Association of British Insurers has condemned plans by the government to increase damages awarded to mesothelioma sufferers who are unable to trace a liable insurer.
Untraced meso scheme payments up £8k
Mesothelioma sufferers unable to trace their employer at the time of exposure are now set to gain boosted settlements, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Gallagher Bassett wins mesothelioma payment scheme contract
The appointment of scheme administrators for the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme has been awarded to Gallagher Bassett International.
Expertise in Action: Employers’ Liability: Taking the hit
The Mesothelioma Act means the employers’ liability market will suffer another hit as it seeks to absorb the costs of funding the compensation scheme.
ABI rejects suggestions mesothelioma payout will increase to 100% over time
Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum attacks exemption U-turn.
Government U-turn on mesothelioma exemption roundly condemned
A government U-turn that will result in mesothelioma sufferers no longer being able to pocket the total amount of a claim has been slammed by opposition MPs and claimant lawyers.
Mesothelioma Bill’s 75% compensation cap outcome is ‘extremely fair’
Bill edges closer to royal assent as claimant bodies vow to continue to fight limit.
Your say: Recent deluge could open the floodgates on asbestos risk
The recent floods that have devastated many parts of the UK could have unexpected consequences by increasing the risk of asbestos exposure.
Apil slams 'watered down justice' as meso amendment is voted down
The Mesothelioma Bill passed its final parliamentary stage on Tuesday and will become law once it receives Royal Assent.
North of the border: Liability rethink leads to meso trial
The case of Bavaird v McAlpine (2013) concerned Gordon Bavaird’s death from mesothelioma in 2008, says Catriona Stewart.
Legal Update: Mesothelioma Claims: Ministry of Justice’s mesothelioma reforms only complete half the job
Nick Pargeter says the government is failing both claimants and insurers by abandoning fixed costs.
Kennedys concerned about lack of costs control for asbestos claims
Insurance law firm Kennedys has expressed concerns that the government has showed no intention to consider the issue of recoverable fees for asbestos claims.
Apil concerned about elimination of no win no fee system for asbestos
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has expressed concerns about the elimination of the ‘no win, no fee’ system for mesothelioma victims.
Government to work with insurers on mesothelioma plan
The Government is to work with victims’ groups and insurers representing employers to explore new ways to improve the legal process for handling claims from victims of mesothelioma, according to the courts minister.
Aviva’s attempt at asbestos exit fueled by increased long-term claims certainty
Firm’s plan to offload rumoured £1bn book linked to overall restructuring,
Welsh asbestos bill passed
The Welsh Assembly has passed a bill allowing for the Welsh NHS to recover costs from the insurers of employers whose employees were exposed to asbestos.
Highlights from The Claims Event 2013
With the birth of the new regulator and major regulatory changes, The Claims Event 2013 was a key conference for claims professionals to attend this year to learn about the latest industry developments.
Kennedys calls for end of Laspo mesothelioma exemption
Insurance law firm Kennedys has called for the end to the special legal status granted to mesothelioma claims and bring their processing in line with the reforms introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act.
Apil slams 'misconception' fuelled meso proposals
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has accused the consultation paper on mesothelioma of being “based on a number of misconceptions about how mesothelioma claims are carried out in practice”.
Asbestos proposals are a “missed opportunity” says Apil
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has branded the recent consultation to speed up the settlement of mesothelioma as a “missed opportunity.”
Asbestos victims must not be quick to dismiss Mesothelioma scheme
Asbestos victims must not make swift judgements unfairly condemning the mesothelioma scheme, Derek Adamson, partner, insurance head of occupational health and casualty at DWF said.
Asbestos charities ‘furious’ at MoJ adoption of ABI’s agenda
The Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum has met with justice minister Helen Grant to express anger and frustration around the consultation on Reforming Mesothelioma Claims.
European reinsurers should focus on US APH
The expected increased ultimate cost of dealing with asbestos claims of $10bn (£6.4bn) is a source of growing uncertainty for European reinsurers, Ruxley Research has said.
Mesothelioma: Bearing the burden
With the Mesothelioma Bill due to come into operation early next year, just how much strain is the compensation scheme likely to put on insurers?