SEATTLE — A federal jury in Seattle has awarded $21.5 million in damages to an Illinois man who was injured by an automatic sliding-glass door on a cruise ship.
The Seattle Times reported that the verdict included $16.5 million in punitive damages. Attorneys had argued that dozens of other passengers have been injured by the doors on Holland America cruises.
The company has denied that claim and asked the court to reduce the judgment. It says it will appeal.
Surveillance video shows James Hausman, of Springfield, Illinois, walking through an automatic door when it shut in 2011 while he was on a world cruise. It struck him in the face and side of the head.
A ship doctor diagnosed a concussion. Hausman’s attorneys say he suffered a minor brain injury that caused seizures.
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