A three-and-a-half year compensation battle finally over
Annie Hoffman of our Adelaide office had a win in the High Court this weekend. Justice has been done for the family of Mr van Soest and this case will have significant legal implications for people exposed to asbestos working for mining giant BHP. It will have a profound impact on the claims of current and future victims of asbestos related disease.
Willem van Soest, died of cancer in 2013 aged 73, was exposed to asbestos dust during an 11 week-stint as a painter and docker at the mining giant’s Whyalla shipyard in 1962.
But his three-and-a-half year compensation battle through the state’s justice system finally ended yesterday after the High Court rejected BHP Billiton’s leave to appeal his $358,000 payout.