William Eichler 27 April 2026

Family of asbestos victim receives over £1m compensation

Family of asbestos victim receives over £1m compensation image
High Court © Alex Segre / Shutterstock.com.

The family of a Yorkshire joiner who died from an asbestos-related disease have been awarded more than £1m in compensation.

Rick Oakes, who died aged 67 from mesothelioma, was exposed to asbestos while working as a joiner in schools across the Kirklees area.

An inquest found Mr Oakes died of an industrial disease, with Kirklees Council admitting it failed to protect him from exposure to the deadly substance, according to The Yorkshire Post.

Kirklees Council accepted a breach of duty, and compensation was paid following proceedings in the High Court.

A Kirklees Council spokesperson, said: ‘Whist we are unable to comment on the specifics of this case, we offer our sympathy to the family who have been affected.

‘The council takes its responsibilities for health and safety extremely seriously and our practices have changed significantly as working practices have evolved. As such, we adhere to the highest modern standards of safety in managing and monitoring asbestos in our buildings as part of a robust asbestos management plan.’

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