Veteran Wins $40 Million Verdict After Asbestos Exposure in the Navy

Walter Twidwell was a fiercely independent Navy veteran who worked as a boiler tender shortly after the Korean War. He spent his working life on seven different ships in the U.S. Navy.
Spending long hours in boiler rooms, Walter worked with gaskets and valves that contained harmful asbestos. The mineral could be found throughout Navy ships due to its fire-resistant properties.
Like many of his brothers-in-arms, Walter had no idea that asbestos exposure would lead to a life-threatening disease.
Decades later, Walter got the worst news of his life, but he wasn’t going to take it sitting down. His friend persuaded him to file a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the products that made him sick, and he won a $40.1 million verdict.
Get a free case review now to see if an experienced asbestos lawyer can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Walter Sees His Uncle in a Navy Uniform
Losing his dad when he was only 14, Walter had to grow up fast. As a teen, he already held a job milking cows before the school day started.
When his uncle returned home wearing his U.S. Navy uniform, something changed in Walter. He was inspired to follow in his uncle’s footsteps.
Shortly after graduating from high school and one year after the end of the Korean War, Walter shipped off to begin his life as a boiler tender in the U.S. Navy.
“My dad’s oldest brother was in the Navy during the First World War. He was on the Battleship Texas. I was impressed by the Navy and his uniform, all of it.”
– Walter, a Navy veteran and mesothelioma warrior
Working as a Boiler Tender: Valves, Gaskets, and Asbestos
When Walter served in the military in the 1950s, boilers powered many operations on Navy ships.
Keeping these high-heat, high-pressure machines running was no easy feat. Valves and gaskets constantly leaked, and there was always something to fix. As a man who loved a challenge, it was a job Walter was proud to do.
Unfortunately for the sailors onboard, the ship was filled with many products that contained asbestos.
The service members knew they were working with asbestos but had no idea that breathing in the microscopic fibers could lead to serious health problems like mesothelioma decades later. Asbestos product makers knew of the risks but kept quiet to protect their profits.
“I asked them what the material was made out of you know and they told me asbestos. Nobody ever said anything about it being dangerous.”
– Walter, a Navy veteran and mesothelioma warrior
Walter continued to serve as a boiler tender in the U.S. Navy until his retirement in 1973. With plans to return to his homestead in Washington, he was ready for some time away from the intense life of the U.S. Navy.
Big Plans Interrupted by a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
An avid outdoorsman, Walter was capable of surviving off the land. He hunted his own food and finally had the freedom he longed for.
Walter was involved in his community as well. He donated to nonprofits that supported children and seniors and was also a member of the Freemasons and the Shriners clubs in his city. A local newspaper even ran a story about his life.
Walter’s many activities were interrupted by a stubborn case of pneumonia. The sickness continually made it difficult for him to do the things he loved. Eager to find a solution, he sought the advice of his physician.
“It hurts because knowing that I [had] been so independent all my life, and all of a sudden I can’t do anything for myself.”
– Walter, a Navy veteran and mesothelioma warrior
First, Walter got a chest X-ray and then a biopsy. The doctor diagnosed him with mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Walter knew it wasn’t right that he had been exposed to asbestos in the Navy for all those years. He took his friend’s advice and reached out to an asbestos lawyer for help.
Call (888) 402-1587 right now to see if we can connect you with a top mesothelioma lawyer.
Walter Files a Claim and Wins a $40.1 Million Mesothelioma Verdict
After giving 20 years of his life to the U.S. Navy, Walter wasn’t going to take his diagnosis sitting down.
Working with renowned mesothelioma law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy, Walter met every step of the legal process with the same passion he showed as a boiler tender all those years ago.
From giving detailed interviews to attending court dates, Walter was committed to finding justice through a mesothelioma lawsuit. His lawyers were equally dedicated and led him through every step of the process.
In a life-changing verdict, the company that made the asbestos products he had been exposed to was ordered to pay him $40.1 million dollars.
“I couldn’t stop thinking to myself ‘Oh, wow! These boys know what they’re doin’. They could go back to day 1 and had the paperwork to back them up.”
– Walter, a Navy veteran and mesothelioma warrior
Find Support in Your Mesothelioma Journey
Walter was a veteran who dedicated the better part of his life to fighting for our country’s freedom. Unfortunately, his sacrifice included exposure to asbestos and a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
While no one chooses to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can choose to fight back against the companies that put you in harm’s way. Like Walter, you can pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Call (888) 726-9160 right now or fill out our form to see if we can connect you with a top mesothelioma lawyer who can fight for you.

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Rae Theodore
Rae Theodore is a writer and editor with more than 30 years of experience in legal publishing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Pennsylvania State University.
- Maritime Knowledge. (N.D.). “Marine Boilers”. Retrieved on October 23, 2024 from https://www.maritimeknowledge.in/course-details.php?course_id=65&course_name=MarineBoilers#
- Simmons Hanly Conroy. (September 1, 2024). “Walter’s Story”. Retrieved on October 23, 2024 from https://www.simmonsfirm.com/mesothelioma/lawyer/clients/walter/