Council pays six-figure sum after asbestos-related death of ex-employee

A local authority has agreed to make a six-figure, out of court settlement after one of its former employees died of an asbestos-related disease.

John Bromley worked for 37 years as a building inspector and surveyor for Stafford Corporation, now Stafford Borough Council.

His role included ensuring that asbestos sprayed by workmen onto the beams of building work in the 1970s was applied with the necessary thickness to ensure adequate fire protection.

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2008 and first suffered symptoms of his illness in October 2009. He died on 17 January 2010 at the age of 62.

The Coroner for South Staffordshire, Andrew Haigh, recorded a verdict of industrial disease after holding an inquest in April 2010 into Mr Bromley’s death.

Iain Shoolbred, the lawyer for Mr Bromley’s family, said: “Mr Bromley’s employers were in breach of a number of duties of care to him – even as long ago as the 1950s, there was an awareness of the dangers of asbestos and Stafford Corporation should have done more to protect their employees.”

Shoolbred, an industrial disease specialist at Irwin Mitchell, added: “Although I am pleased that we managed to obtain a settlement for Mr Bromley’s family it is important to remember that no amount of money will bring back John. The compensation will ensure Angela’s [his wife's] future financial security, but she has lost her husband and lifelong companion as a result of him doing no more than going to work and earning a living.

“After more than 30 years working for the council, he was looking forward to a well earned retirement and spending more time with his family, but as a result of this terrible illness, his life was cruelly cut short.”