James Hausman, 61, who was on a cruise ship, suffered the injury as he followed other passengers through the door.

The ship’s doctor subsequently diagnosed him with a concussion reports the Associated Press.

His lawyer, Bill Hemmer, said his client suffered a minor brain injury.

The cruise line operator, Holland America, said it will appeal the federal jury’s ruling which saw Mr Hausman receive $16.5m in punitive damages.

Mr Hemmer produced evidence showing numerous other passengers had been injured in similar incidents caused by faulty sensors.