On 20 February 2008, Jack Straw, the justice secretary, told a group of campaigners that the government was looking carefully at the issue of compensation for sufferers from pleural plaques (14 March, page 36). And in March the prime minister assured the House of Commons that "we will publish a consultation document soon. We are determined to take some action". The meaning of the phrase, "some action" may become clear during or in the wake of the consultation process. But for the moment, there are numerous claims that were adjourned pending the House of Lords decision in Johnston vs NEI International Combustion Ltd (2007). In the light of their Lordships' ruling in October 2007 to the effect that pleural plaques do not give rise to an action in tort because they represent no more than minimal damage, insurers for defendant companies have been applying to the courts to have the adjourned claims struck out.
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