A New York man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2010 was awarded $2 million in a mesothelioma lawsuit filed against his former employer. Gerald Failing received the verdict after a jury found a materials company for responsible for exposing him to cancerous asbestos fibers.

Failing began working at a plastics factory in 1966, where he was required to handle raw asbestos provided by Hedman Resources. The jury found the company liable for Failing’s mesothelioma diagnosis and found the company’s actions were taken with reckless disregard for workers.

Asbestos exposure has been directly linked to several severe diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which can take decades to develop. Between 3,000 and 6,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the United States.