In Australia in 1994, Stephen Wickham bought a house and like most home buyers, he carried out a number of renovations, including the demolition of an old corrugated fibro shed and the replacement of a section of fence made from the same material.
Stephen knew of the dangers of asbestos, but as he had only recently moved to Australia from England he had no idea that fibro made in Australia before the mid-1980s contained asbestos.
Nineteen years later, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a fatal cancer caused by asbestos.
Stephen Wickham argued in court that the manufacturers of the fibro, James Hardie, should have warned home renovators about the dangers of the asbestos it was made from. In a landmark legal case he highlighted that the company had the money to run a campaign, providing documents showing money was spent flying VIPs in private jets to events, but they chose not to.
The annual number of deaths from asbestos diseases in Australia is now higher than the numbers killed on the roads.
During two days of hearings, James Hardie’s former chairman admitted that not only had they not run a public awareness campaign but that he thought the dangers of asbestos were exaggerated by the media.
The case went on to settle for a confidential amount.
Anyone renovating a home should always check for and be aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos.
If you have been exposed to asbestos, and have developed an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP at (800) 598-0314 immediately. Or contact us online for a free consultation.
