ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A former Michigan soldier who lost his right hand when a bomb that he was disarming in Iraq exploded in 2004 has won a $4.3 million judgment against the U.S. Army in a disability discrimination case.

A federal jury in Ann Arbor on Friday reached a verdict in the civil case in favor of 38-year-old James McKelvey of Macomb County's Macomb Township.

Lawyer Kevin Carlson tells the Detroit Free Press the case proved that the Army created a hostile work environment. The lawsuit said a boss and coworker at the Army's Warren arsenal described McKelvey as "the cripple."

A message seeking comment was left Saturday with a federal lawyer who handled the case for the Army.

The 2004 blast also shattered his face and voice box, and severely burned and damaged his left hand.