DP v Topmark Claims Management Ltd (CM) [2020] UKUT 106 (AAC)

Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber decision by Judge Markus, QC on 2 April 2020.

Read the full decision in CM/1365/2018

Judicial Summary

  1. The First-tier Tribunal should determine an appeal under the Mesothelioma Act by reference to the circumstances which exist at the time of the tribunal’s decision.

  2. Regulation 7 of the Diffuse Mestothelioma Payment Scheme Regulations 2014 provides for circumstances which amount to “any other reason” for a person being unable to bring an action for the purpose of section 3(1)(c) of the Mesothelioma Act 2014.

  3. The circumstances in regulation 7 are not exhaustive of what amounts to “any other reason”. The phrase “any other reason” takes its colour from the other reasons listed in section 3(1)(c). It is concerned with the circumstances of the putative defendant, where there is no tortfeasor or insurer capable of satisfying a judgment.

  4. A person who is statute barred under the Limitation Act is “able to bring an action” and so does not satisfy the condition in section 3(1)(c).

Published 27 April 2020