Man walks into cruise ship door, awarded $21.5 million

A cruise ship mishap may result in a huge pay day for a passenger.

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.

James Hausman's attorneys argued during a nine-day trial that dozens of other passengers have been injured by the doors on Holland America Line cruises because of problems with their sensors, The Seattle Times reported Tuesday.

The company has denied that claim and asked the court to reduce the judgment. It says it will appeal.

Surveillance video shows Hausman, 61, of Springfield, Illinois, walking through an automatic door when it shut on Nov. 26, 2011, as the M/S Amsterdam approached Hawaii. Hausman, who was traveling with his wife and daughter on the beginning leg of a cruise around the world, got hit in the face and side of the head.

Holland America said in court documents that Hausman walked into the closing doors. A ship doctor diagnosed him with a concussion, and he finished the trip. But Hausman's attorneys say tests later showed that he suffered a minor brain injury that has caused seizures, memory loss and vertigo.