Mesothelioma Litigation

Former British rail worker Doug Varty was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, in 2009 and died last year as a result of the asbestos-related disease, an inquest heard recently.

The Derby Evening Telegraph reports that Varty made a statement prior to his death as part of an asbestos compensation claim. In the statement, Varty claimed he worked with asbestos-containing pipes and brake pads for a number of years prior to being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

"I never wore a mask and we were certainly not told that asbestos was dangerous in any way," Varty said of his time working with the dangerous mineral.

Dr. Ivan Robinson, a pathologist who conducted the postmortem examination, told the inquest that he found a tumor inside Varty's chest and recorded a verdict of death from an industrial disease, according to the news source.

In addition to malignant mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos can cause asbestosis and lung cancer. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 107,000 people across the globe die each year as a result of asbestos-related diseases.