October 19, 2004

From the Oct. 14 Melbourne Age: "In a landmark decision, a West Australian court has ruled that a former Wittenoom asbestos mill worker who has a chronic fear of dying from an asbestos-related death be compensated for psychiatric injury." Arthur Della Maddalena's workplace had been ravaged by asbestos-related illness and although he was found not to be suffering from mesothelioma, judges "accepted evidence from Mr Della Maddalena's psychiatrists that he was terrified he would die a horrible asbestos-related death and lived in a state of chronic fear and depression".