Rossendale cleaner wins £36,000 payout (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rossendale cleaner wins £36,000 payout

6:22pm Monday 1st March 2010 in

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A ROSSENDALE cleaner has won £36,000 from solicitors in Waterfoot after they dropped his compensation case.

Chris Schofield, 52 from Haslingden, worked for TS Chemicals in the town for 7 years during which he said he developed a catalogue of health problems, his solicitors Pannone said.

After leaving his job, he approached Walkers Solicitors to see if he could seek compensation.

The Waterfoot firm has now been forced to pay Chris £36,000 after telling him his claim had been made too late and dropping his case.

Chris, who now works for the NHS as a caretaker, was then advised to speak with the specialist industrial disease solicitor, Pauline Chandler at Manchester law firm, Pannone.

She told Chris he had a valid case to sue his former solicitors for negligence.

Chris, from Sidmouth Avenue, said: “At the chemicals company I developed some breathing difficulties and even now I have to use an inhaler.

“I wanted to speak with a local firm so I went to Walkers Solicitors around three years ago, but on the day of the hearing, they cancelled the case and that was it.

“I am so pleased that I went to Manchester to see another solicitor.

“I am glad with the outcome and I will now look to pay my bills.”

On Chris’s behalf, Ms Chandler alleged that his former solicitors had been negligent in not starting court action quickly enough and deprived him of a chance to obtain compensation from T S Chemicals.

Ms Chandler said: “This was a difficult and complex issue, but at the end of the day, Mr Schofield was a sick man through no fault of his own.

“He went to a solicitor in good faith and they let him down. I’m glad we were able to help him.”

Although his former solicitors denied negligence, they have now settled his claim for £36,000.

A spokesman for TS Chemicals said later: "As a responsible chemical company, TS Chemicals contract an external Occupational Health Service to carry out routine health checks on our employees.

"Mr Schofield was regularly assessed by this service and there was nothing to suggest that he should cease working at TS Chemicals.

"Mr Schofield was also supplied with the correct Personal Protective Equipment for his job and he was fully trained to enable him to carry out his job safely.

"TS Chemicals considers itself to be a reputable company and we endeavour to ensure our workforce is treated fairly and responsibly at all times.”

Walkers Solicitors declined to comment.