an airport worker has been awarded $40 million in compensation for a freak runway accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down more than seven years ago brandon afoa, 33, of puyallup, washington, was operating a tug to push aircraft at seattle tacoma international airport when the brakes and steering failed, causing him to crash into a luggage lift the incident, which took place at 2am on december 26, 2007, left afoa unable to use his legs or right arm much of his intestinal tract also had to be removed by surgeons afoa went on to sue port of seattle   which owns and operates the sea tac airport   in king county superior court, saying that the company failed to maintain a safe workplace closure: an airport worker has been awarded $40 million in compensation for a freak runway accident which left him paralyzed from the waist down more than seven years ago  but for years the case was locked in the courts because the port of seattle claimed it wasn't liable for what happened as afoa worked for a private firm in a bid to move things forward, the state supreme court finally ruled in 2013 that the airport had a 'duty' to provide a safe working environment on tuesday a king county jury awarded afoa $40 million because of what the incident has done to his life indeed, the paraplegic needs round the clock help from caregivers just to survive in the courtroom a panel was shown video footage of afoa being craned from his bed by a special lift to a commode and undergoing therapy jurors went on to apportion 25per cent of the blame for the accident to the port of seattle meanwhile, a number of airlines which weren’t part of the lawsuit will pay the rest of the money owed this is because they had contracts with afoa's previous employer   evergreen aviation ground logistics enterprises   which has since gone out of business commenting on the outcome, afoa told komo tv: 'it was a relief and i'm very thankful for the jury for making an awesome decision' in a statement, the port of seattle expressed its sympathies to afoa and his family for the accident the agency says it's reviewing the decision if it decides to appeal the verdict, it could delay payment of afoa's award
puyallup seattle tacoma international airport brandon afoa tuesday 33 afoa the port of seattle the state supreme court years december 26, 2007
brandon afoa, 33, of puyallup was operating a tug to push back aircraft at seattle tacoma international airport when the brakes and steering failed, causing him to crash into a luggage lift  the incident, which took place on december 26, 2007, left afoa unable to use his legs or right arm  for years the case was locked in courts because the port of seattle claimed it wasn't liable as afoa worked for a private company  however, the state supreme court ruled the airport operator had a 'duty' to provide a safe working environment  a jury awarded the judgment on tuesday 