Helen Grady

My sister died of Peritoneal Mesothelioma on 27th Sept 2017. Once diagnosed, a year before her death, she instructed a firm of solicitors to make a mesothelioma compensation claim. My sister died without ever knowing where she had been fatally exposed to asbestos. Her daughter, my niece continued the claim on her behalf after her death. After years working on the case, and not bringing any action, these solicitors pulled out and abandoned the claim on 18/06/2020, 3 months before the 3 year Limitation date. My niece and I were totally at a loss as to where to go from there after so much time wasted. After several enquiries with solicitors in other law firms in June and early July 2020, only one individual inspired us with any hope of resurrection, that person was Helen Grady. From the outset, and for the first time, I felt Helen believed in our claim and had the conviction and experience to pursue it aggressively. Helen gave no credence to the complication of the deceased’s employment status being in question, as the wife of a brewery licensee receiving only an honorarium payment. To the previous solicitor, and their barrister, this was deemed an insurmountable obstacle. Helen had a complete grasp and prior knowledge of employment practices of the big brewing companies in the 1970s & 80s where they often used this arrangement to essentially gain two employees for the price of one. Helen would have none of it, she refused to accept that this Brewery construct might deny her employment rights and hit the ground running. Now Helen was acting on our behalf, it was a frantic race to gather all the information, evidence, and back history to date, for a second time against the same defendants and insurers. Helen, made a new claim action, and for the first time registered it with the court, commissioned an expert medical report, schedule of costs, and a half a dozen more important signed witness statements. Family members had discovered the source of the asbestos in 2018, a hotel premises where the family had lived and worked for 7 years for Bass plc. A copy of an asbestos report on the hotel in question, commissioned by Punch Taverns in 2017, was obtained in evidence to support this. All this kept the claim alive and established the strong case it always was for the right legal team. We were now in the middle of the Covid Pandemic and Helen and many of her colleagues were working from home, nonetheless Helen organised them, myself and my niece, to gather everything together, especially the canvassing of friends and family for additional witness statements. Throughout this Helen was in constant communication with us and fastidious in her approach. Helen had a clear plan and strategy and was tenacious in executing it. On 27th Oct 2021, in a little over 15 months, the claim was brought to a successful conclusion, without going to Court. Damages were agreed between the defendant and the claimant, amounting to a gross amount of £115,000. None of this success would have happened if not for the belief and drive of Helen Grady, who from the outset expertly and professionally galvanised us all in putting an extremely strong claim in place, enough for the defendant and their insurers, this second time around, to admit employer liability and settle out of Court. Although there was a barrister and many other expert legal people involved in this claim I have no doubt without Helen Grady immediately picking up the pieces after the withdrawal of the prior solicitor’s, this claim would have failed. She had to fight to get the approval of her law firm at the time to even take the claim on at all. In all law firms there a special few people who not only practice the law but also seek to get justice for their clients. I believe Helen Grady is one such person and would thank her for representing us so well in our claim and highly recommend her to anyone seeking the same type of expertise and commitment.

I can honestly say I felt so cared for from the first moment I met the team, I felt that whatever the outcome they would do their very best for me and my beloved husband. He would be so touched and proud that they did this for us, thank you is such a small word that means so much.

I was extremely satisfied with the service provided. Helen clearly set out the process and then has kept me fully informed throughout the process. Moreover, the team have kept my Dad fully informed and engaged taking into account the illness and any treatment situation that was ongoing at the time. The home visits worked very well in giving my Dad re-assurance and clarity and building trust. As an older person who does not always work well with technology the face-to-face time has made it easier for him to understand what has been going on and feel he was being listened to. The visit for building the Medical report was a particular example. I would have no hesitation in recommending Amicus Law to someone in a similar position.