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

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.