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Former pupil's asbestos claim against school

27 October 2009

A court has found for the first time that a school was responsible for negligently exposing a pupil to asbestos.

Dianne Willmore was exposed to asbestos while a pupil at Huyton Bowring School, on Merseyside, in the 1970’s, when asbestos was still widely used in buildings.

Asbestos fibres were released into the air during school building works and from chipped tiles in the toilets.

Two years ago she developed mesothelioma, a form of cancer generally caused by exposure to asbestos.

Liverpool County Court ruled in July 2009 that she was entitled to compensation from Knowsley Council, which was responsible for the school, because it knew or ought to have known that any more than minimal exposure to asbestos dust was a health hazard.

The council appealed the decision, but last week the Court of Appeal confirmed the council were liable.

Sadly, Mrs Willmore lost her fight against mesothelioma the day after the Court of Appeal decision.

Sara Hunt, associate and asbestos specialist at national law firm Shoosmiths, said: “This is an extremely important case that will help many others who may have been exposed to asbestos in schools. It is very sad that it came about in such tragic circumstances.”

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Sara Hunt

Associate
T: 03700 86 4221
I: +44 (0)121 625 4221
E: sara.hunt@shoosmiths.co.uk