Justice For The Miners
Miners get backing for legal claims
THOUSANDS of miners were last night on the brink of winning the right to lodge compensation claims for injuries they sustained during their careers.
At a hearing in Leeds County Court in May, mining union Nacods South Wales brought five test cases on behalf of its members in an attempt to begin legal action against the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The legal challenge was begun on behalf of the many miners who developed severe arthritis in their knee joints as a result of prolonged kneeling and crouching in cramped conditions while underground. Yesterday, Judge Simon Grenfell recommended that the application for the group litigation order (GLO) sought by the union be granted.
The judgment will affect many older pit workers in the region.
David Guy, president of the Durham area National Union of Mineworkers, which aims to join the legal action, said that 10,000 to 15,000 claimants could eventually be drawn from the County Durham area alone.
The final decision now rests with the head of civil justice, who is expected to make his ruling in late summer.
Nacods spokesman Bleddyn Hancock said: "This is a very positive step. It is something we expected as the judge was very impressed by what we said at the time, but we are delighted and look forward to the final decision. We would be bitterly disappointed if the judge's recommendation was not followed."
A DTI spokesman said: "A GLO has only recently been applied for and is currently before the Lord Chief Justice. Therefore, this proposed litigation is in its infancy.
"At present, no evidence has been produced to suggest that any liability attaches to the DTI for the knee injuries."
9:14am Tuesday 11th July 2006
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