A SETTLEMENT hearing is to begin next month into a compensation claim by relatives of four dead bridge workers.
Families of the men are pursuing civil action against Darlington engineering group Yarm Road Ltd - formerly Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge - and Costain Ltd, of Berkshire.
Andy Rodgers, 40, of Middlesbrough, Paul Stewart, 24, of Newcastle, Ronnie Hill, 39, of Glasgow, and Jeff Williams, 42, of Newport, died when they fell from a gantry while working on strengthening the Avonmouth Bridge, near Bristol, on September 8, 1999.
A trial into the compensation claim was due to start at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, but a settlement hearing will be held instead on April 22.
In December 2001, the companies were ordered jointly to pay a £500,000 fine, plus £525,000 costs, for breach of health and safety regulations.
The fine was one of the largest imposed under health and safety legislation.
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