Case Background:

Phani Guthula was inspecting light fixtures at the Rodin Museum, an outpost of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Ben Franklin Parkway, on Nov. 26, 2012, as part of an energy efficiency evaluation. During the inspection, Mr. Guthula fell 38 feet through an unsecured glass attic floor after his security escort allowed him to work on the dangerous working surface. The Rodin had recently undergone renovations, and railings intended to keep people off the hazardous glass floor were not in place. Security officers at the museum were inadequately trained and unfamiliar with the space.
The museum was open for business at the time of the fall, and it was captured on surveillance video. Mr. Guthula suffered numerous fractures and trauma from “head to toe,” the attorneys said, underwent more than 15 surgeries, and spent more than a month and a half in the hospital as a result. He’ll require lifelong medical care, the attorneys said.

Case Result:

The plaintiff’s team prepared for trial, and the case was settled one business day before jury selection. Mr. Guthula, who was working as an energy-efficiency engineer when he nearly plunged to his death, settled his claims for $7.25 million.

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