Asbestos Litigation
Belgian family wins landmark asbestos compensation case
In what is being hailed as a landmark decision, the family of an asbestos victim in Belgium will receive a quarter of a million euros in asbestos compensation.The family of the victim will receive the funds from the makers of Eternit, a fiber cement brand. According to the European Trade Union Institute, in the past asbestos victims in Belgium rarely, if ever, won their cases.
"This ruling puts a stop to the impunity that Eternit has enjoyed in Belgium for too long. Thanks to a courageous fight by one family, we have finally secured recognition for the heavy price paid in general indifference [to] thousands of Belgian workers," said Laurent Vogel, the director of the ETUI’s Working Conditions department.
Workers all over the world have been frequently exposed to asbestos in a variety of industries, such as shipbuilding, boiler work and pipe fitting. The consequences of this exposure are dire as it has been proven for nearly 50 years that the inhalation of the naturally occurring mineral fibers can cause a number of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
12/5/11
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