Boyes Turner recently acted on behalf of a gentleman called Glen following his diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. Glen’s wife, Sonya, contacted our asbestos team after they received support from asbestos support charity, HASAG, following his diagnosis in September 2025.
What is peritoneal mesothelioma?
Most mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos – peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common. The peritoneum is the lining of the abdomen which has two layers. It helps to protect the contents of the abdomen and keeps our organs in place. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a primary tumour in the peritoneum and originates from the peritoneal lining. Like pleural mesothelioma arising in the lining of the ribcage, it can be caused by asbestos exposure.
Glen’s peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis
Glen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma after suffering from shortness of breath and significant abdominal distention and discomfort in May 2025. Following investigation, it was found that he was suffering from the disease and he began chemotherapy. Glen requires frequent drainage of fluid which builds up in his abdomen due to his mesothelioma.
Glen’s asbestos exposure
Glen worked for an asbestos company in the 1960s as a labourer. He unloaded paper bags of raw asbestos from lorries and moved them to be stored in a warehouse. The bags were dusty and would often split. When they split, he would clear up the spillage using a broom and shovel to sweep the loose asbestos into a pile. Glen could not escape the dust, and it was visible in the atmosphere. Glen also unloaded paper bags of blue asbestos and tipped it into the bay to be mixed with concrete, and he mixed it by hand. Glen and his colleagues would all sit together for tea breaks in dusty clothes and when he got home from work, he was covered in dust from head to toe. He was not warned about the dangers of asbestos or given protective equipment.
Process of the asbestos claim
Following Sonya contacting our team, Melloney Harbutt, Legal Director, went to visit them at their home and obtain details about Glen’s asbestos exposure which she promptly put into a witness statement to preserve his evidence.
The Defendant admitted breach of duty shortly after initial contact with them to initiate the claim, so Melloney collated evidence for the purpose of quantifying the claim and began negotiations with the Defendant. A 6-figure settlement was agreed within 8 months from Sonya’s first contact.
No amount of financial compensation could ever ease the heartbreak Glen, and his family have experienced since receiving his life-changing diagnosis. However, the settlement offers an important acknowledgment that Glen should never have been exposed to asbestos and provides some financial security and peace of mind for him and his family as they face the challenges of life with mesothelioma.
*names have been anonymised
For more information about how the mesothelioma and asbestos disease claims team can help you or your loved ones after a diagnosis of an asbestos related disease, please contact our Asbestos team on 0118 952 7199.
Written by
Melloney Harbutt
Melloney Harbutt, Legal Director in the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Disease team.
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