Pa. Church Volunteer Who Lost Leg in Accident Awarded $4 Million

June 2, 2008

A jury has awarded more than $4 million to a man who lost a leg in an accident while doing volunteer work at his Northampton County church.

Jay Benfield was installing telephone wires at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Nazareth when a stack of drywall fell on him on Dec. 26, 2000. He was trapped overnight until workers found him the next day.

His left leg had to be amputated.

The jury deliberated about six hours last Thursday and Friday before announcing the verdict.

Jurors found that one contractor was 70 percent responsible for the accident, another contractor was 20 percent responsible and that Benfield was 10 percent responsible.

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Information from: The Morning Call, http://www.mcall.com