Mesothelioma Compensation
Some people who develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure may be able to claim compensation. Your legal entitlements will depend on the state or territory in which you were exposed to asbestos. In some cases, the exposure may have occurred overseas.
Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, so your exposure to asbestos may have occurred some 40 years ago. You might think it was a trivial exposure, or you may not remember any exposure. Talking to your friends and family can help to bring back memories of places where you may have been exposed to asbestos.
An expert lawyer will also talk you through your life history and help you find out where the exposure took place. They will explain what compensation you may be able to claim and help make the process easy for you to understand.
Generally, a person diagnosed with mesothelioma has two different types of legal entitlements:
a claim through the court, known as a "common law claim"
a claim under a government compensation scheme, known as a "statutory claim".
"When my husband was diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma, we were advised to apply for compensation. He reluctantly contacted lawyers, and they assured us we had a very strong case. My husband didn't survive to `win' his case but I did, with a lot of help, caring, understanding and good advice from our lawyers." – Sharon
Common law claim
A common law claim is a claim process through a court. The claim is brought against the party or parties who caused a person to be exposed to asbestos. These parties are known as the "defendants". A common law claim begins by filing a formal court document known as an "originating process". The originating process must be lodged within your lifetime to protect your entitlement to compensation. As long as you start a common law claim during your lifetime, your estate will still be able to continue with your claim if you die before the claim is finalised.
You need to speak with a lawyer experienced in asbestos-related compensation claims as soon as possible after your diagnosis. If you're too unwell to visit the lawyer in their office, they can visit you at home or in hospital to discuss the process and how it can be simplified for you and your family.
t may still be possible to bring a common law claim even if:
you were exposed to asbestos many years ago
you no longer work for the employer where you were exposed
you have worked for many employers
you were self-employed or a contractor
your employer is no longer in business
you are, or were, a smoker
you were exposed to asbestos in another state or overseas
you were not exposed in the workplace
you were only briefly exposed to asbestos
you were exposed to asbestos on more than one occasion
you don't know how you may have been exposed to asbestos.
Finding a lawyer
Making a mesothelioma claim is a specialised area. It is important to talk to a lawyer or law firm experienced in this area of work, as they often have a wealth of knowledge about how and where asbestos was used.
You can find a leading lawyer in asbestos by checking the Doyles Guide Directory – visit doylesguide.com/australia and type "asbestos" in the search bar. Mesothelioma support organisations can also assist you in contacting an expert asbestos lawyer.
Talking to an expert in this field can help reduce the time taken to investigate a claim. Experienced lawyers also understand mesothelioma and what you are coping with. Your lawyer will work around medical appointments or treatments to try to make things less stressful for you.
How long will a common law case take?
The majority of common law claims for mesothelioma are settled out of court within 3–6 months of the claim being lodged. If your prognosis is poor, or you suddenly become very unwell, the process can be sped up to try to ensure that your common law claim is resolved in your lifetime. Only a few cases actually proceed to a court trial.
What if I die before my claim is settled?
Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma worry that their claim won't be finalised before they die. The largest component of compensation is usually the general damages. So long as you start a common law claim in your lifetime, then your entitlement to general damages is protected, and your estate would be able to continue with your claim if you die before your claim is finalised.
In some circumstances, your family may also be entitled to dependency entitlements if you die because of the mesothelioma. Your lawyer will let you know if this applies to you and your family.
How much does legal action cost?
Legal costs are generally dependent on the amount of legal work required to resolve your case. Most lawyers who specialise in asbestos-related compensation claims offer a "no win, no fee" agreement. This means that the lawyers will only charge for legal services if they are successful in resolving your case. You are also entitled to claim a large portion of your legal costs from the defendants as part of your common law claim. The amount of costs awarded will depend on whether your case was resolved at mediation or at trial.
Ask your lawyer for a costs agreement and get them to talk it through with you so you know what is involved. Be aware that even under a "no win, no fee" agreement, if you:
start a claim but decide to cease the action, you will usually need to pay any legal costs up to that point
proceed but lose the court case, you will not need to pay your
lawyer, but you may still need to pay court costs for yourself and possibly for the defendant
are successful, a significant portion of your compensation might be absorbed by any costs that the defendant doesn't have to pay.
Statutory claims
Some states and territories have special government compensation schemes for people who develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. These schemes usually apply only if you have been exposed to asbestos during your employment.
he authorities for Australia's asbestos compensation schemes are:
ACT – WorkSafe ACT, call 02 6207 3000 or visit worksafe.act.gov.au
NSW – Dust Diseases Authority, also known as icare dust diseases are, call 02 8223 6600 or visit icare.nsw.gov.au
NT – NT WorkSafe, call 1800 019 115 or visit worksafe.nt.gov.au
QLD – WorkCover Queensland, call 1300 362 128 or visit worksafe.qld.gov.au
SA – ReturnToWorkSA, call 13 18 55 or visit rtwsa.com
TAS – WorkSafe Tasmania, call 1300 366 322 or visit worksafe.tas.gov.au
VIC – WorkSafe Victoria, call 1800 136 089 or visit worksafe.vic.gov.au
WA – Your employer's insurer or if unknown, Insurance Commission of estern Australia, call 08 9264 3333 or visit icwa.wa.gov.au
Commonwealth – Comcare, call 1300 366 979 or visit comcare.gov.au.
Do I need a lawyer?
It is possible for you and sometimes your dependants to lodge a statutory claim directly with the authority in your state or territory. However, most people with mesothelioma prefer to use a lawyer to arrange all their claims.
The laws around Australia vary and can be complex. Some people may be entitled to bring a common law claim instead of, or in addition to, a statutory claim. It is vital to consult an expert asbestos lawyer before applying for statutory benefits to ensure you aren't excluded from also claiming common law compensation.
Using an expert asbestos lawyer will allow you to access all your entitlements while concentrating on your health and spending time on the things that are important to you.
Advance care planning
It is also worth seeking the advice of a lawyer to ensure your will is up to date and that your intentions for your estate are clear.
You may wish to arrange legal documents appointing a substitute decision-maker. Depending on where you live, the documents for appointing this person may be known as an enduring power of attorney, enduring power of guardianship, or appointment of an enduring guardian. You can also outline your wishes for your future medical care in an advance care directive. These documents are part of advance care planning.
Cancer Council offers a Legal Referral Service that can help with wills and advance care planning, and assistance is free for eligible clients. Call 13 11 20 to find out more.
Disebuah pedesaan pinggiran, hiduplah seorang ilmuwan tua bernama Maurice. Dia sangat berambisi untuk memenangkan nobel penghargaan penemuan paling bergengsi. Dia tidak hidup sendiri, melainkan dia hidup berdua bersama putri tunggalnya, Belle. Belle adalah gadis tercantik di desa itu. Tak ayal, banyak pria berniat meminangnya. Tak terkecuali, preman desa, Gaston. Gaston mencintai Belle karena kecantikannya semata, bukan karena hatinya. Belle tidak seperti gadis pada umumnya, meskipun dia cantik, Belle tidak menghabiskan waktunya hanya untuk berdandan, dia menghabiskannya didalam perpustakaan. Membaca dan bersenandung, adalah kesenangan Belle. Didalam perpustakaan, ada satu buku yang membuatnya tergila-gila, yaitu buku dongeng tentang pangeran yang dikutuk karena tidak mengenal kasih sayang.
Semuanya berawal saat Maurice pergi ke luar kota untuk mengikuti lomba penemuan terbesar. Ditengah jalan, Maurice tersesat dan dikepung sekawanan serigala. Kemudian, Philip, kuda yang ditunggangi Maurice ketakutan dan hampir masuk kedalam jurang. Karena spontan kaget, Philip berbalik sehingga Maurice pun terjatuh di hutan gelap. Maurice yang ketakutan berlari tak tentu arah. Sampailah ia didepan gerbang sebuah kastil tua. Diapun segera memasukinya untuk meloloskan diri dari kejaran serigala lapar.
Tak disangka, kastil tua itu milik seorang pangeran yang dikutuk menjadi monster buruk rupa karena kesombongannya. Seluruh penghuninya pun berubah menjadi benda-benda, bukan lagi manusia. Maurice langsung saja dijebloskan kedalam penjara menara yang menyeramkan.
Semuanya berawal saat Maurice pergi ke luar kota untuk mengikuti lomba penemuan terbesar. Ditengah jalan, Maurice tersesat dan dikepung sekawanan serigala. Kemudian, Philip, kuda yang ditunggangi Maurice ketakutan dan hampir masuk kedalam jurang. Karena spontan kaget, Philip berbalik sehingga Maurice pun terjatuh di hutan gelap. Maurice yang ketakutan berlari tak tentu arah. Sampailah ia didepan gerbang sebuah kastil tua. Diapun segera memasukinya untuk meloloskan diri dari kejaran serigala lapar.
Tak disangka, kastil tua itu milik seorang pangeran yang dikutuk menjadi monster buruk rupa karena kesombongannya. Seluruh penghuninya pun berubah menjadi benda-benda, bukan lagi manusia. Maurice langsung saja dijebloskan kedalam penjara menara yang menyeramkan.
Philip kembali ke rumah Belle. Belle sangat khawatir karena Philip pulang tanpa ayahnya. Diapun menyusul ayahnya dan kembali ke kastil menyeramkan itu. Saat Belle memasukinya, penghuni yang berupa benda-benda itu senang bukan main. Mereka berharap, dengan datangnya Belle, maka kutukan itu bisa berakhir. Mereka juga semakin khawatir karena mawar ajaib akan segera layu dan rontok, jika itu terjadi, maka mereka tidak akan bisa kembali semula dan tetap terkutuk selamanya. Maka, mereka menuntun Belle menuju penjara ayahnya. Saat Beast tahu, dia marah bukan main. Namun, dia menawarkan 2 pilihan kepada Belle. Ayahnya bebas dan dia ditawan selamanya, atau ayahnya yang menjadi tawanan selamanya. Belle memilih opsi pertama, dia menggantikan ayahnya. Dia menangis dan sedih karena dia tahu dia tak bisa lagi bertemu ayahnya. Dia membayangkan akan disiksa dan dipenjara.
Bayangan Belle seutuhnya salah. Didalam kastil, dia sangat bahagia. Hari-hari berlalu, banyak hal baru yang ia lalui bersama Beast. Walau mulanya ia takut kepada Beast yang tempramen, akhirnya hati Beast luluh oleh kebaikan dan keteguhan hati Belle yang mengajarinya tentang kasih sayang. Bulan berganti. Hari berlalu. Cinta tumbuh diantara mereka. Sejak Beast menyelamatkan Belle dari serangan kawanan serigala, Belle semakin mencintai Beast. Namun, suatu hari Belle melihat ayahnya terpuruk diterpa hujan salju melalui cermin ajaib Beast. Belle tak sanggup melihat ayahnya menderita. Dengan berat hati, Beast merelakan Belle pergi, dan tak lagi menjadi tawanannya. Beast terpukul dan hanya bisa melamun memikirkan Belle sepanjang hari. Belle pulang dengan membawa cermin ajaib Beast sebagai penghubung mereka.
Gaston, yang telah berambisi menikahi Belle, berniat memasukkan Maurice kedalam rumah sakit jiwa. Maurice yang telah bercerita tentang Beast kepada Gaston dan seluruh warga desa, dianggap gila karena tidak mungkin ada makhluk seperti Beast. Kemudian, Gaston mendesak Belle. Jika dia mau menikah dengannya, ayahnya akan bebas. Tetapi, Belle tidak mau menerima pinangan Gaston yang memaksa. Gaston marah dan menarik ayah Belle kedalam kereta untuk diangkut. Belle tidak mau semua ini terjadi. Dia kemuadian mengambil cermin ajaib dan menunjukkan bahwa Beast benar-benar ada dan dia sangat menyayanginya. Gaston yang cemburu kemudian mengajak warga berbondong-bondong untuk menyerbu kastil Beast dan memprovokasi bahwa Beast bisa memangsa warga jiga terus dibiarkan. Belle kemudian membela Beast. Karena Gaston tidak terima, Belle dan Maurice dikurung didalam gudang bawah tanah. Untung saja, Chips, putra Mrs.Potts diam-diam menyelinap kedalam tas Belle. Kemudian dia menyelamatkan Belle serta Maurice dan segera menyusul ke kastil.
Kastil sudah berhasil diporak-porandakan oleh warga. Namun, pihak Beast menang dalam pertarungan spektakuler itu. Anak buah Beast berpesta pora atas kemenangan mereka. Mereka tidak tahu bahwa Gaston sudah menyelinap ke menara sisi barat, tempat Beast berada. Pertarungan berlangsung. Beast hanya bisa diam saja karena telah patah hati dan putus asa ditinggal orang yang dicintainya. Gaston menguasai Beast sepenuhnya. Tepat saat Gaston akan menghunus Beast, seketika itu Belle bersama Maurice dan Phillip datang. Kekuatan dan semangat Beast kembali. Beast pun memenangkan pertarungan. Nahas, saat Beast berusaha meraih tangan Belle, punggung Beast ditusuk oleh Gaston. Karena kesakitan, Beast menepis Gaston dan Gastonpun terlempar ke jurang.
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