FERNDALE, Wash. – The family of a Ferndale man who died from asbestos exposure will receive $4 million as part of a lawsuit against the former owner of a Whatcom County refinery.

The Washington State Supreme Court recently upheld the ruling in favor of Warren Wright, whose exposure was found to be the result of negligence by ExxonMobil Oil Corporation.

Wright was a contract worker for ExxonMobil at its Ferndale refinery in the 1970’s.

He died of mesothelioma caused by asbestos that he was exposed to while handling materials at the refinery.

ExxonMobil was found to have inadequately trained its workers and knowingly allowed them to work in unsafe conditions.

Wright’s son brought the lawsuit against ExxonMobil in 2018 and was awarded $4 million in damages.

Exxon appealed the decision but the state Court of Appeals and now the Washington Supreme Court, both upheld the verdict.

The refinery is the oldest in Washington state and is now owned and operated by Phillips 66.