A Morgan County jury found for the plaintiff in a civil suit yesterday to the tune of more than $31,000 in damages. 

Local landlord David Hauser was found 80 percent liable in a November 2006 incident, resulting in a broken ankle for former tenant Joshua Shoemaker. The suit, filed in May 2007, was seeking compensation for injuries Shoemaker sustained when he fell off a porch that didn’t have a city-mandated protective railing.

The incident happened at an apartment building at 846 West State.

Testimony revealed that Shoemaker and a friend were ‘horsing around’ on the porch just before he fell, which happened after those involved were listening to music and allegedly smoking marijuana for several hours.

The five-figure sum compensates Shoemaker for $29,000 in medical bills and $2,000 for future pain and suffering.

Shoemaker was found 20 percent liable in the incident.

The jury deliberated for just over two hours last night.