Asbestosis sufferer told he’s too healthy to sue

A Darwin businessman who suffers from asbestosis has been told that unless he can no longer breathe unaided, he is wasting his time trying to sue for compensation.

Harry Maschke, 69, was diagnosed three years ago and believes he contracted the illness while working on government buildings in the 1960s and 70s.He wants to launch legal action against the Northern Territory Government but says he has consulted his union lawyers, who have told him he is too fit.”At the moment it’s still dormant,” he said.”I would keep the medical people most probably happy and the legal system happy if I keep on following up but I would have no results.”(Source: ABC Health, December 2004)