February 05, 2006

"Overturning a legal precedent of more than 20 years, the U.K. Court of Appeal last week ruled that anxiety induced by the asbestos-related condition pleural plaques should not be compensable". The ruling could save insurers upwards of £1 billion; cases in which claimants display impairment or other symptoms of illness can still go forward. (Carolyn Aldred, Business Insurance, Jan. 30; Yorkshire Post; Daily Telegraph; Sunderland Echo). The subhed on a Nov. 14 BBC report curiously describes claimants as having been "struck down" by the asymptomatic condition.