A groundworks boss has been awarded more than £500,000 in damages after a house builder tried to silence him after he raised concerns about asbestos on sites.
Martin McGowan took legal action against Scottish house builder Springfield Properties.
The Court of Session heard that McGowan worked as a subcontractor for Springfield employing up to 70 people on their projects.
Both sides fell out in 2016 when McGowan raised concerns about asbestos and a lack of PPE for his staff on a number of sites.
Springfield responded by obtaining an interim court order to prevent McGowan speaking publicly about the asbestos.
The order was eventually lifted in 2021 after Springfield was fined £10,000 for Health and Safety offences involving asbestos at a site in East Dunbartonshire.
McGowan said the gagging order hit his reputation and led to him losing contracts.
The Court of Session ruled in his favour and awarded McGowan £558,033.
from Construction Enquirer https://ift.tt/WsK9hiU