Phani Guthula almost died from his injuries, in 2012.
AB Wire
Indian American Phani Guthula, a Philadelphia area energy efficiency engineer who nearly died after falling 38 feet through a glass attic floor on November 26, 2012 while inspecting lighting fixtures in the famed Rodin Museum, has reached a $7.25 million settlement with defendants as compensation for his injuries.
The compensation was announced by Guthula’s attorneys at Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, P.C. – Larry Bendesky, David Kwass and David Langsam.
The settlement was reached earlier this month just as jury selection was about to begin in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on Guthula’s numerous claims against defendants – including the museum’s private security company – collectively responsible for the failure to protect him from harm when he stepped onto the hazardous, unprotected glass floor.
As a result of the fall, Guthula, then 27 years-old, suffered multiple fractures and other traumatic injuries from head to toe; he was hospitalized for more than 45 days, has had more than 15 surgeries, and requires intensive life-long medical care. He can now walk, but slowly, and sometimes loses his concentration and focus. Guthula is engaged and plans to get married soon.
Guthula, who at the time lived in North Wales, Montgomery County, suffered femur, hip, pelvic, rib, and elbow fractures and other traumatic injuries, his attorneys said.
The Rodin is owned and operated by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and had recently completed an extensive, $9 million renovation at the time of Guthula’s energy efficiency inspection (he was working for consulting contractor ICF International) and tragic fall. The museum was open to visitors at the time of the accident, which was documented by security cameras.
“One of the Rodin’s most famous sculptures is titled, Gates of Hell,” said Bendesky, a member of Guthula’s legal team at SMBB. “The chilling picture of Phani Guthula falling nearly to his death could have the same title; his life has been a living hell every day since his fall. His accident was totally preventable had those responsible for his safety just done their job.”
Kwass added, “Testimony at trial clearly would have demonstrated that the defendants failed miserably in their duty to protect Mr. Guthula. Guard railings installed to keep people off the glass floor were not in place, security personnel who escorted him to the site were uninformed and inattentive, and there was no signage to warn against a fall hazard to which everyone – after the accident – agreed existed when he almost met his death.”
Bendesky stated, “Mr. Guthula hopes that there are lessons learned by those who are responsible for workplace safety. The best plans and precautions are meaningless – as they were in his case – if they are not followed by everyone involved.”