$7.25m settlement after engineer falls through museum ceiling

In November of 2012, an engineer checking the lights at Philadelphia's Rodin Museum fell through a glass ceiling and 38 feet to the floor below.

The attorneys for the victim, Phani Guthula, recently announced that a $7.25 million dollar settlement with the parent institution, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the security company of the museum, has been reached.

According to the lawsuit filed, Guthula had been led to believe that the ceiling, which ultimately collapsed, would be able to support him.

Surveillance footage from the accident shows the man falling through the glass ceiling, landing on the ground 38 feet below, narrowly missing a nearby statue.

The video also shows a man seated close by who appears to see the man falling and immediately jumps up and runs to get help.

The fall proved nearly fatal, and Guthula suffered both broken bones and brain damage. He spent over 45 days in the hospital, and after his release required the assistance of a service dog for tasks as seemingly small as taking off socks.

Over the years, a number of health matters have endured. To this day, Guthula experiences difficulty with some cognitive and motor functions.

According to the New York Daily News the victim filed a lawsuit in 2013 asking for damages from both the museum and Allied Barton, the company that employed the security guard that allowed him onto the glass.

Although Allied Barton will be paying part of the settlement, they disputed the fact their employee was aware of the dangers.