Having spent pupillage working on the leading disease case of Thompson v Smiths Shiprepairers (North Shields) Ltd [1984] QB 405, Jayne has worked in the industrial disease field for the whole of her career.
Working on all aspects of disease claims at Multi Track level, with a particular interest in asthma, cancers and chest diseases, asbestos work forms a significant part of practice.
Regular appearances before the Specialist Masters on show cause and all interlocutory matters are combined with trials and appeals on limitation, liability, causation and quantum. Jayne has been involved in group actions involving exposure by the Fire Service to allegedly contaminated water in rescue training and RADS claims arising from work in petroleum columns, as well as new claims in resurgent areas of silicosis and tuberculosis.
She has also been involved in air contamination, wood dust and aspergillus claims.
Recent cases have included Hill & Billingham v Lloyds British Inspections Services Ltd & Others [2013] EWHC 520, establishing the test for exposure between 1965 and the introduction of the Asbestos Regulations 1969 to be measured by TDN 13, Dalton v Gough Copper & Co Ltd [2014] EWHC 1556, an appeal from an Asbestos Master leading to setting aside judgment in default and ultimately discontinuance of the claim, and Robinson (Personal Representative of Frederick Lugay Deceased) v Hammersmith & Fulham LBC [2017] EWHC 1823 where the local authority successfully defended allegations of breach of duty in a mesothelioma claim arising from occupancy of local authority housing.
Jayne also provides generic and strategic advice for insurers in relation to matters which affect claims generally, including public liability claims, disputes between insurers and, most recently, the approach to be taken to immunotherapy claims in mesothelioma. She regularly provides lectures and training within this sphere.
