Washington Man with Terminal Cancer Wins Asbestos Lawsuit

Vashon, WARoger Hammet, an 84-year-old Vashon, Washington resident, recently won an asbestos lawsuit after contracting terminal cancer during his tenure as a deckhand on the north end ferry in the Washington port town, according to the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Reporter.

The news source reported that the Vashon resident allegedly contracted the cancer due to exposure to asbestos during his lengthy maritime career. In August, 2010, Hammet was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal lung cancer that resulted from his exposure to asbestos on ships.

The Reporter noted that Hammet was in good health prior to the diagnosis, but now doctors have said that he can expect to die in the next year. The former deckhand received some consolidation, however, as he won a lawsuit against the company that owned a boat he had worked on.

According to the news source, Hammet and his family were awarded $1.45 million for the pain, suffering, disability and loss of enjoyment in life the man experienced.

"I was elated," Hammett said of the win. "Now I know my wife will be taken care of, and my grandchildren."

A few months before Hammet and his family received this award, they won a smaller, undisclosed amount from Washington State Ferries. He had worked for the company for 28 years and during this time was allegedly exposed to asbestos, according to the Reporter.

Hammet, who reportedly remains cordial and possesses a dry sense of humor, told the news source he still tries to garden, but it is becoming more and more difficult to do such tasks.

"I use a shovel as a walking stick, and I do OK," Hammet told the news source.

Despite his age, Hammet still feels robbed of several years of his life, and noted that before going to court, the company that owned the boat had offered him a $5,000 settlement which he called "chicken feed."

Across the country, a Buffalo, New York man was recently awarded $2 million for an asbestos lawsuit, after he allegedly suffered similar side effects following exposure, according to the Buffalo News.