Our Asbestos Experience

Turner Freeman has the largest and most experienced dust diseases practice in Australia. For over 25 years Turner Freeman has represented thousands of victims of dust diseases.

Turner Freeman ran its first asbestos claim in New South Wales in 1982.  Over the years Turner Freeman has represented many victims of asbestos disease from Western Australia and due to an increasing number of clients from Western Australia it has been a natural progression to open our office in Perth in 2010.

Turner Freeman also have four offices in New South Wales (Sydney, Parramatta, Newcastle and Wollongong), five offices in Queensland (Brisbane, Cairns, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Mt Isa), 2 offices in South Australia (Adelaide and Whyalla) and an office in Canberra.

Turner Freeman employs the most experienced dust diseases lawyers in Australia. Eight of Turner Freeman’s Partners (Armando Gardiman, Thady Blundell, Tanya Segelov, Gerard McMahon, Judy Horobin, David Taylor, Wayne McStay and Sean Ryan), one Senior Associate (Kacey Wuelfert) and three Associates (Annie Hoffman, Fiona Seaton and Tara Cash) practice exclusively in the area of dust diseases claims and have over 100 years of dust diseases litigation experience between them.

Turner Freeman’s Perth office practices exclusively in the area of dust diseases.  Kacey Wuelfert, Senior Associate, who has transferred from our Brisbane office and who has over 7 years experience as a lawyer representing victims of dust diseases heads our Perth office.

Turner Freeman’s vast experience in dust diseases litigation means that it has a wealth of information in relation to possible exposures to asbestos, the development of medical and scientific knowledge as to the dangers of exposure to asbestos, the different company structures and insurers and the aietology of the various dust diseases, all of which are readily available to assist in running claims.

Notable victories

Notable victories

We have achieved many important victories including: The first verdict for a child born at Wittenoom and exposed to blue asbestos dust in the township. The first verdict on behalf of a victim who was working with brake lining materials as a fitter in an engineering firm. A succession of successful judgments for workers exposed to asbestos [...]

The Hardie enquiry

In 2001 James Hardie (as it currently operates) attempted to seperate itself from the liabilities created by its old asbestos businesses. They attempted to do this by creating a Fund that would pay all future asbestos liabilities, and then moving all the other companies overseas. They also undertook some corporate restructuring that had the effect [...]
Acting for Bernie Banton

Acting for Bernie Banton

See media articles about Bernie Banton’s case Turner Freeman client and asbestos campaign hero, Bernie Banton, sadly lost his battle with peritoneal mesothelioma on 27 November 2007. Turner Freeman Partner, Tanya Segelov, acted for the late Bernie Banton in his claims for compensation after he was first diagnosed with asbestosis in 1999 and then again [...]