An Indiana jury Tuesday awarded $16.5 million to a Highland man whose foot was amputated in an industrial accident five years ago. John Mesman, 44, was operating a rail car in January 1998 when an overhead crane dropped a 14,000-pound load of steel on top of him, causing severe foot trauma. Mesman, whose injury has cost him over $1 million in past and potential medical bills as well as $650,000 in lost wages, filed suit against his employer, Infra Metals of East Chicago, and Crane Pro Services of Portage.

Plaintiff attorneys argued that Crane Pro designed a defective crane and that the company failed to properly warn Infra Metals employees about the potential danger. The award is believed to be a record figure for a personal injury lawsuit involving Mesman's specific injury.