The influential committee of MPs chaired by Sir Alan Beith called for the decision to be reversed until “the effects of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act changes in non-mesothelioma cases” can be fully assessed.
Up until now Mesothelioma victims, many of whom contracted the fatal disease after being repeatedly exposed to asbestos at work, have received their compensation in full and insurance companies would pay the legal fees and a "success fee".
Under new rules contained in the Act, Mesothelioma victims would have to pay the success fee out of their compensation.
This would save the insurance industry millions.
HM Government initially saw the unfairness of this and delayed introducing this until there was a review of the likely impact. In December 2013 HM Government announced that a review had been undertaken and the new rules would be applied to Mesothelioma victims from July 2014 onwards.
This has now been delayed and the Committee decided to hold a short inquiry into the decision.
Slater & Gordon Mesothelioma Lawyer Paul Glanville welcomed the committee’s findings and urged HM Government to take heed.
“We should not be making it harder for Mesothelioma victims to claim the compensation they are entitled,” he said. “Implementing these rules will have this effect. The Government promised a review before taking these steps. This has not taken place.
“Hopefully in the light of the findings, HM Government will take very seriously the calls from the victims and confirm that these rules will not apply to Mesothelioma cases.”
Paul Ganville specialises in Asbestos Disease claims at Slater & Gordon Lawyers in Halifax.
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