The founder of Virgin Records, billionaire Sir Richard Branson, is facing a lawsuit from a former employee who was exposed to asbestos on the job. The employee is seeking damages after being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer infecting the lining of the lungs and chest cavity that is caused by exposure to asbestos.
The claim dates back to the early 1970s when the first Virgin Records store in London opened on Oxford Street. The store was converted from an old shoe shop in a two-year renovation project that involved removing old asbestos insulation and cutting and installing new asbestos boards. This process generated high quantities of asbestos dust that had to be cleaned up and removed by the employees, resulting in consistent, long-term exposure. In his claim, the employee states that he was exposed at another Virgin Records store where he was sleeping while the job was ongoing, as well as at another worksite on Sloane Street.
Asbestos Exposure Shortened Worker’s Life Expectancy
When asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled or ingested and get lodged in the lungs, where they begin to damage the surrounding cells. After a latency period that can last for 10 to 50 years, tumors can develop in the chest cavity. Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, patients often have short survival rates; the 74-year old shop fitter involved in the case has lost approximately 12 years from his life expectancy because of the disease and is seeking money damages.
The employee began experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma in early 2020, nearly 50 years after his exposure at the Virgin Records store. Once he was diagnosed and began treatment, he contacted Virgin Records Ltd multiple times through his lawyer, but he did not receive a response. The employee then filed a lawsuit against Virgin Records and Branson, alleging negligence. Though Branson no longer owns Virgin Records, he was the owner of the company at the time of the worker’s asbestos exposure.
There are approximately 2,700 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United Kingdom each year. This is fewer than the 3,500 cases each year in the United States but represents a much higher portion of the population. Workplace asbestos exposure is a factor for many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, and workers who were exposed decades ago, before stringent safety measures were put in place, may still develop symptoms. Workers who are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related disease may be able to recover compensation from the owner of the worksite, any contractors or sub-contractors who were engaged in the work on that site, the company that produced the asbestos products, or even the manufacturer of protective equipment, if it failed to work as intended.
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Shein Law Obtain Justice for Workers Exposed to Asbestos
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos at work, the Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law are ready to help. We have successfully represented workers in all types of asbestos exposure cases. We will thoroughly review the facts of your case to determine who is at fault for your asbestos exposure and hold them accountable. We are committed to getting you the maximum compensation to which you are entitled. Call us at 877-743-4652 or contact us online to discuss your case. With offices in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.