THE High Court in London has rejected various applications brought against Thor Chemicals by about 20 former employees seeking compensation for suffering mercury poisoning while working at the Thor plant in Pietermaritzburg. The court ruled that expert evidence submitted by Thor was admissible after the claimants’ lawyers applied to have it struck out, and an application to reverse a restructuring of Thor Holdings was also denied. Lawyers claim the restructuring was deliberately manipulated so the company would be unable to pay if the case was lost. The court also refused the claimants’ leave to appeal the decision and denied an application to have Thor lodge about R4-million to cover costs and awards if the compensation action succeeds. In 1997, 20 other South African mercury victims were successful in claiming R13 million in an out of court settlement with Thor.