Thomas Renfrew v. Lithgows Limited and Others [2008] CSOH 118

Proof:- The pursuer was employed as a painter in the shipyards by the first defenders between 1959 and 1969 and by the second defenders between 1970 and 1973 when he was exposed to asbestos dust causing mesothelioma. In this action the pursuer sought damages for personal injury in respect of the disease. The defenders admitted liability and the only issue was quantum. It is expected that the pursuer will die during 2008. The main question the court had to consider was how long the pursuer would have lived had it not been for him developing mesothelioma. This was complicated by the pursuer suffering from an unconnected vascular disease. It was the pursuer's position that the vascular condition would not have affected his lfe expectancy whereas the defenders submitted that the condition would have. Here the court considered what the pursuer's life expectancy would have been had it not been for him developing mesothelioma.