Bennett Family Drops Suit Against Apartment Owner

Raleigh, N.C. — The father of a woman killed in her north Raleigh apartment in 2002 on Monday dropped his lawsuit against the apartment complex.

Carmon Bennett asked that his lawsuit against Equity Residential be dismissed, according to Charles Bentley, Bennett's attorney. No reason was given for the move, which came after three days of testimony.

Bennett has a year to refile the suit, and Bentley said they likely would resubmit the case for a new trial.

Stephanie Bennett, 23, was found raped and strangled in her apartment near Lake Lynn on May 21, 2002. Drew Planten was charged with the slaying in October 2005 but committed suicide in prison while awaiting trial.

Carmon Bennett sued Equity Residential, which owns the Bridgeport Apartments complex, claiming that the windows didn't lock properly in his daughter's apartment.

The suit also contended that shrubbery around the apartment building was too high and that there was inadequate lighting. Both factors allowed the assailant to hide and prowl outside the apartment, the suit alleged.

A few weeks before Stephanie Bennett's murder, two tenants told the complex and Raleigh police that they saw a peeping Tom looking through Bennett's window.

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Latest Comments

nthomas42, exactly. I've been reading a few threads about this story, and there are so many people who sound like they would rather be "dead right" than to just do it themselves. I agree the apt should do it, but I'm not going to risk my life waiting for them.

uncw05
January 23, 2007 6:22 p.m.

yes the apt complex needs to keep window lock and door locks working. But face it-- if she lived there 2 years and she kept reporting the window lock and they didnt repair it-- 50 percent of the blame is hers. A window lock is about .99 and 4 screws and about 5 minutes. surely she could have done that herself. But in this case-- she is "dead right" the window lock was not her responsibility.

superman
January 23, 2007 1:13 p.m.

I worked in APT mgt for years and it is their responsibility to make sure that locks work, as well as the shrubs have to be at "safe heights" in front of lower apt windows. He had a great case and the apt. should be held accountable for this!

cjandminnierule
January 23, 2007 9:38 a.m.

I am glad this has been dropped.It was a process of mourning.Blame and Hate are also a part of the process.They more than likely have crossed some the paths of the mourning process,and have come to look at the situation in a different way.

vickiej40
January 23, 2007 9:31 a.m.

From the N & O: "The request for dismissal came after an issue emerged in the first few weeks of the trial, said Charles A. Bentley, an attorney representing Bennett's estate. He did not elaborate on specifics, but said that he anticipates that he will bring the case back to another jury in the future."

The only winners here are going to be the lawyers...