East News

Man Gets $18M for 20-Foot Fall Through Manhole

February 27, 2008

A former Pa. medical student who fell through a manhole and suffered career-ending injuries will receive $18 million after a Philadelphia jury trial.

Thirty-year-old Marcus Gustafsson of Philadelphia fell about 20 feet through the open manhole in 2004.

Lawyer Matthew Casey says Gustafsson suffered a broken back and other serious injuries and cannot return to medical school.

The defendant, the energy company Trigen-Philadelphia, says someone removed the 250-pound cover illegally.

A jury returned an $85 million verdict Monday, but the parties had agreed to cap the award.

Comments? Click here to post a comment about this article

Subject	Posted By	Posted On
is this a public stoning?	Mlle. Cotard	Jul 5, 2008, 8:31 pm
RE: this was a needless tragedy!	Mary B.	Mar 5, 2008, 5:23 pm
RE: More info from Phila Enquirer	mcheck57	Mar 3, 2008, 12:22 pm
RE: I was in Tijuana where you can't sue	How 'bout this	Mar 3, 2008, 11:16 am
I was in Tijuana where you can't sue	Smitty	Mar 3, 2008, 10:59 am
this was a needless tragedy!	sympathetic!	Mar 1, 2008, 11:27 am
RE: RE: Dumb jury	Nebraskan	Feb 28, 2008, 9:19 am
RE: More info from Phila Enquirer	PS	Feb 28, 2008, 9:19 am
More info from Phila Enquirer	anon	Feb 28, 2008, 8:36 am
RE: Dumb jury	TruthSeeker	Feb 27, 2008, 9:35 pm
RE: RE: Dumb jury	Please, please	Feb 27, 2008, 9:33 pm
RE: Dumb jury	Wow	Feb 27, 2008, 7:53 pm
RE: I wonder..	Just a thought...	Feb 27, 2008, 6:20 pm
I wonder..	Philly	Feb 27, 2008, 2:54 pm
RE: A lot of questions left unanswered -	Calif Ex Pat	Feb 27, 2008, 1:54 pm
A lot of questions left unanswered -	James	Feb 27, 2008, 1:12 pm
RE: RE: Dumb jury	To JTD	Feb 27, 2008, 1:11 pm
Med Student? ?	Blind as a bat	Feb 27, 2008, 1:08 pm
RE: Dumb jury	JTD	Feb 27, 2008, 1:07 pm
Very dumb	ge	Feb 27, 2008, 12:51 pm
Did it happen at night?	KLS	Feb 27, 2008, 11:16 am
RE: Dumb jury	CJ	Feb 27, 2008, 10:29 am
Dumb jury	lastbat	Feb 27, 2008, 10:05 am