CIE Legazpi and Sidenor Aceros Especiales will be responsible for paying the majority of the compensation awarded to a former employee for cancer caused by asbestos. The Supreme Court has confirmed the ruling by the Eibar Labour Court, thereby dismissing CIE's appeal.
As a result of this judgment, CIE Legazpi and Sidenor must jointly pay 208,197.98 euros. Additionally, GKN Driveline will pay another 158,230.45 euros due to the failure to implement protective measures against asbestos exposure.
The former worker, who performed hydraulic maintenance tasks in the steelworks of the Patricio Echeverria plant between 1970 and 1991, later worked at GKN Driveline Legazpi until his retirement in 2010. In 2019, he was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, and after a claim to Social Security, he was recognized with absolute incapacity due to occupational disease in February 2023.
In 2025, the worker sought compensation from CIE and Sidenor, the successor companies of Patrizio Etxeberria. The Eibar court accepted the claim, but CIE appealed to the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country, which also rejected the appeal. Finally, the case reached the Supreme Court, which has issued a definitive ruling in favour of the compensation.
“"The companies were aware of the cancer risk, but decided not to comply with the law, preferring to avoid the costs of preventive measures, underestimating the risk and harm to workers' health."
Asviamie, an association representing asbestos victims in the Basque Country, stated that the companies knew about the cancer risk but chose not to implement safety measures. The association expressed its "satisfaction" with this latest ruling, despite the long legal process.
