Mesothelioma sufferer awarded $1.3m February 26, 2013 - 4:58PM A 69-year-old Sydney man suffering from a disease caused by exposure to asbestos has been awarded more than $1 million in damages. The NSW Dust Diseases Tribunal on Tuesday awarded $1.3 million to Mario Perez, who can no longer care for his family because of a severe form of mesothelioma, Maurice Blackburn lawyers say. Mr Perez worked for the Urban Transit Authority at the Chullora Bus Depot from the late 1970s until 1990, and spent up to three days a week caring for his family until his illness took hold. In a statement, Maurice Blackburn said Mr Perez was exposed to asbestos from gaskets in the engines of buses and from asbestos pipe insulation. He was also exposed to asbestos when the depot's antiquated asbestos roof was removed in 1987. The tribunal found Mr Perez should be entitled to damages in relation to his lost capacity to provide future domestic services to his grandchildren and wife, the law firm says. "The crux of the case related to the substantial amount of child care Mr Perez provided to his family during his retirement," Maurice Blackburn principal Theodora Ahilas said. We argued that this caring role should be taken into account when damages were awarded.