Rebecca's story: navigating a dependency claim after losing Leigh to work-related cancer

Nestled in a close-knit community near the Dandenong Ranges, Leigh and Rebecca built a life filled with love, family, and hard work.

Leigh spent over 20 years as a skilled sheet metal worker and welder, a trade he was proud of, while raising three young boys. Weekends were for footy games, bushwalks, and teaching his sons practical skills he had learned over the years. Life seemed full of promise.

But when Leigh sadly passed away in 2022, leaving Rebecca to care for their three young sons alone, the questions started immediately: How could this happen? Could anything have been done to prevent it? And most importantly, how could she protect her family’s future?

When Leigh’s symptoms turned serious

When Leigh began having headaches and a persistent nasal drip, he thought it was just a sinus infection. But when his GP grew concerned, a CT scan revealed something far more serious.

“He sat us down and said, ‘We think it’s a tumour’,” Rebecca recalls.

In March 2019, Leigh was diagnosed with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC), a rare and aggressive cancer of the head and neck. It begins in the lining of the nasal cavity or sinuses and often goes unnoticed at first, with symptoms that can easily be mistaken for a common infection. By the time it’s discovered, it can often spread to nearby areas such as the eyes, skull or brain.

Treatment for this cancer is intensive, often involving surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It can affect a person’s breathing, appearance, sense of smell and speech, impacting every part of daily life.

For nearly three years, Leigh fought with extraordinary courage. But on 27 March 2022, he sadly passed away, aged just 38. His youngest son had only just started school.

The article that changed everything

In the fog of grief that followed, Rebecca came across a news article about welding and its connection to certain cancers. Her heart sank. It was the exact same cancer that had affected Leigh.

Rebecca immediately called Maurice Blackburn and spoke with specialist dust disease lawyer, Ross Sottile.

"Immediately when I took the call from Rebecca, I knew that I wanted to help her," Ross says.

"She was a young mum of 37 at the time, with three young kids. I knew that I wanted to do everything in my power to help them get compensation."

Ross began researching and quickly identified a clear connection between welding fumes and Leigh’s rare cancer, uncovering multiple studies that confirmed the risks he had faced at work. With this evidence in hand, the legal fight could begin. But it would not be straightforward.

Rebecca and Ross faced an uphill battle, fighting not only for recognition of Leigh’s work-related illness but also for the financial security of his family.

Despite the uphill battle, the claim resolved at a settlement conference a few weeks away from the scheduled trial.

Fighting for the boys’ future

When Leigh passed away, Brody was 11, Ryder 10, and Mason just five. As the family’s primary provider, Leigh had worked full-time while Rebecca cared for their sons. His sudden loss left Rebecca facing not only profound grief, but also the ongoing responsibility of supporting three young children on her own.

Through a dependency claim, Ross fought for compensation on behalf of Rebecca and her three boys. Despite legal obstacles, we were able to successfully achieve compensation, providing the family with financial security and recognition of Leigh’s work-related illness.

Leigh’s legacy and a message for other families

Rebecca wants families who have experienced a similar loss to know that legal support is available. Many people don’t realise that studies, legal options, and dependency claims exist to help families affected by occupational diseases. If she hadn’t come across that crucial information, she might never have discovered the path to justice for her family.

Leigh should have had decades ahead of him watching his boys grow up. Thanks to Rebecca's determination to share their story, other families facing similar losses may now find the support and seek the justice they deserve.

How we can help

If you've lost a loved one to an occupational disease and believe you may have a dependency claim, our team of experienced dust disease lawyers can help. We provide clear guidance through your legal options and work on a No Win, No Fee basis, so you only pay legal fees if your case is successful.

Contact us today.