Local

Campaign worker who fell in manhole reaches settlement

ATLANTA — A woman who said she was seriously injured when she fell into an open manhole while campaigning for Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has reached a settlement with the city.

Denethia McCall told Channel 2's Rachel Stockman she was walking along Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard in southwest Atlanta while canvassing the neighborhood on behalf of Reed.

McCall said there were a lot of leaves on the ground and she fell into the uncovered manhole.

"What were you thinking when you were stuck in there?" Stockman asked.

"Am I going to walk again? Am I going to be able to get out? Will I be able to walk again," McCall said.

Minutes stretched on and McCall said she was in excruciating pain as she waited for someone to rescue her.

"I had two surgeries. Two major surgeries, anesthesia, put to sleep, wrapped up, walker, cane, you name it, I had it," McCall said.

McCall was also a student who had no insurance so she hired an attorney to find out who or what was responsible.

Her attorneys, Scott Christopher,  and Darwin Johnson, showed Stockman a piece of evidence he said is the smoking gun in the case.

"The work order, without a doubt, placed the city of Atlanta at the intersection working in a manhole two days before the accident. You do the math on that one," Christopher said.

McCall sued the city and Reed, the very man for whom she had campaigned. She settled for $90,000 this week.

"I think that the city was neglecting their job and for future reference to do their job correctly because just like I got hurt, anyone can get hurt," McCall said. "If you had my pain, and my ankle, you would understand"

City officials released a statement that said, "The city is pleased that this matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties."