British Steel Group Litigation: Request For Preliminary Hearings To Determine Limitation Refused

The High Court has refused an application by Tata Steel to have limitation tried as a preliminary issue in respect of a group action alleging historic exposure to dust and fumes at work.

Background

On 2 February 2017, the High Court approved an application for a Group Litigation Order (GLO) submitted by a number of former British Steel workers and family members of deceased workers. It is alleged that the workers were exposed to dust and fumes at work and have subsequently developed occupational diseases.

This action has already been subject to several applications on various issues:

An application to add a firm of solicitors as a lead firm was rejected in 2017. Mr Justice Turner finding that adding another firm of solicitors would increase the aggregate costs bill and lead to a duplication of effort. An application was granted earlier this year adding additional Claimants into the group litigation order (GLO), two months after the previously extended deadline for registration had passed. This "indulgence" was granted after the Claimants persuade the court that adding the additional parties would not increase disclosure obligations significantly...