Lawsuit accuses Cornelius Bennett of sexually assaulting teen in 1992

[billsfan1959]

 

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2021/09/02/cornelius-bennett-former-buffalo-bills-player-accused-sexual-assault-brighton-ny-bar-otter-lodge/5692984001/

 

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Former Buffalo Bills football player Cornelius Bennett has been accused of sexually assaulting a teen in a Brighton bar nearly three decades ago. The alleged incident involving Bennett, who is now 56 and lives in Florida, occurred at the Otter Lodge in Brighton in the summer of 1992, according to a lawsuit filed Monday with the Monroe County Clerk's office. 

Quote

A woman this week filed a lawsuit against Bennett, the National Football League and Buffalo Bills, alleging that Bennett repeatedly and violently sexually assaulted her when she was 17 years old. It is alleged that Bennett sexually harassed the teen in the bar and followed her to the basement where he pushed her into a phone booth, tried to undress her and sexually attacked her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.

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The woman said she has suffered permanent emotional trauma as a result of the encounter. According to the lawsuit, the woman accused the NFL and the Buffalo Bills of failing to properly supervise Bennett while he interacted with patrons at the bar. She claimed that they knew, or should have known, about the attack and other misconduct and failed to take any sort of action.

 

 

Here is the complaint:

 

https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cornelius-bennett-assault.pdf

Edited September 3, 2021 by billsfan1959
Udate

[Matt_In_NH]

No idea if this is true or not, obviously.  But he is a convicted sex offender.  The details of when when he was convicted used to be online and were not good.

 

https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/flyer.jsf?personId=41507

[Doc Brown]

10 minutes ago, mattynh said:

No idea if this is true or not, obviously.  But he is a convicted sex offender.  The details of when when he was convicted used to be online and were not good.

 

https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/flyer.jsf?personId=41507

It's true.  He served prison time after pleading guilty to sexual assault in Buffalo in 1997.  It's the real reason he's not on the Wall of Fame.

[billsfan1959]

21 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

It's true.  He served prison time after pleading guilty to sexual assault in Buffalo in 1997.  It's the real reason he's not on the Wall of Fame.

 

I believe off the field issues are not supposed to factor in to the voting; however, I'm sure for some (maybe many?) it does.

[Beast]

The Bills and the NFL failed to supervise him.

 

Money grab right there but it won’t work. That will get tossed.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Wait, the Bills and NFL didn't properly supervise him...but she was 17 and unsupervised in a bar selling flowers? Don't get me wrong, if something happened he deserves to be found guilty (and wish she could have come forward almost 30 years ago so he would serve jail time if guilty). 

[UConn James]

48 minutes ago, Beast said:

The Bills and the NFL failed to supervise him.

 

Money grab right there but it won’t work. That will get tossed.

Lawyers go after who has the most money. Just name them in the lawsuit for publicity factor and figure / hope they’ll settle for some 💰 to make it go away. If CB did this, then it’s HIS fault, not the Bills & NFL. #🤬Lawyers

 

Call it what you want, but the time for this was 30 years ago. It’s now even more of a he-said-she-said case unless there is some physical evidence, and they are relying on the current climate as a way to tip the balance.

[Beast]

8 minutes ago, UConn James said:

Lawyers go after who has the most money. Just name them in the lawsuit for publicity factor and figure / hope they’ll settle for some 💰 to make it go away. If CB did this, then it’s HIS fault, not the Bills & NFL. #🤬Lawyers

 

Call it what you want, but the time for this was 30 years ago. It’s now even more of a he-said-she-said case unless there is some physical evidence, and they are relying on the current climate as a way to tip the balance.

 

That's why I said money grab. Deepest pockets but it won't work.

 

Yeah, the rest is dubious at best. However, if she has a credible witness or two that could swing things in her favor.

[Eastport bills]

With all due respect and compassion for any victims of sexual abuse, filing a complaint aft

[machine gun kelly]

I don’t understand what was the impetus for her coming forward.

 I’m not inferring I don’t believe her, but just seems odd.

Edited September 3, 2021 by machine gun kelly

[Patrick Duffy]

Wow! Wonder why they let coming up on 30 years go by before speaking up.

[RunTheBall]

At risk of offending all the White Knights on this board, this is a pure money grab in the age of MeToo. 30 years later there is zero evidence available one way or the other, it’s purely he-said, she-said and the hope is the bad publicity will force Bennett to send some $ her way to make it go away quickly. I’m not saying Bennett is innocent and if he knows he assaulted her he should (but won’t) pay up. Zero chance there’s a criminal charge, this is all civil. 

[Paul Costa]

I’m all for justice. I’m also all for facts. I know there are many variables in any type of assault allegations especially sexual assault. To bring it up 30 years later makes it much harder to get to the truth. It reminds me of the whole Catholic Church sexual allegations where young people have been suppressing what happened for decades. What ultimately is the end game when you try a case 30 years after it happened?

[Chandler#81]

That guy could really rush the P*****!

Passer, Damn spellcheck! PASSER!

[BigBuff423]

26 minutes ago, Paul Costa said:

I’m all for justice. I’m also all for facts. I know there are many variables in any type of assault allegations especially sexual assault. To bring it up 30 years later makes it much harder to get to the truth. It reminds me of the whole Catholic Church sexual allegations where young people have been suppressing what happened for decades. What ultimately is the end game when you try a case 30 years after it happened?

 

I have no idea if her claims are true or not and I won't try to be a legal expert myself. However, the bolded portion has to do with the outcome or objective and as men, we tend to focus on those narrow parameters. But often traumatized victims find the goal to be processing their own grief and she might have had treatment or therapy encouraging her to have a voice. Giving herself a voice to name her abuser and pull herself out of the victimization by casting aside her shame and announcing her ability to survive after many years of broken and failed relationships, peripheral substance abuse or an inability to re-enter society as she did before she was allegedly victimized. Again, I'm in no way validating OR doubting her statements - I take a completely neutral take to these accusations, but I am also seeing it from more than just an objective based approach by indicating the process itself for the victim, has value (again without saying she is or isn't a victim). The worth is in the voice being heard, the guilt and shame of sexual trauma being removed from her own mind, and trying to find some way to heal and obtain a sense of closure. 

Edited September 3, 2021 by BigBuff423

[Gugny]

45 minutes ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

Wow! Wonder why they let coming up on 30 years go by before speaking up.

 

Perhaps she was inspired by the Nirvana baby.

[Eastport bills]

With all respect and compassion for victims of sexual abuse, after 30 years to file a complaint against an ex ballplayer to extract a monetary award is a little much. To pile on this guy because he had a previous conviction is just the wrong precedent to set. He should be given the presumption of innocence until overwhelmingly evidence is presented. Why would any victim bury something that was so damaging for 30 years? These exfootball players are easy targets. 

[Southern_Bills]

2 hours ago, Beast said:

The Bills and the NFL failed to supervise him.

 

Money grab right there but it won’t work. That will get tossed.

 

Failed to supervise him? Are you saying players need supervision to obey the law and have basic human decency? Wow, I hope I read that wrong.

[Patrick Duffy]

3 minutes ago, Eastport bills said:

With all respect and compassion for victims of sexual abuse, after 30 years to file a complaint against an ex ballplayer to extract a monetary award is a little much. To pile on this guy because he had a previous conviction is just the wrong precedent to set. He should be given the presumption of innocence until overwhelmingly evidence is presented. Why would any victim bury something that was so damaging for 30 years? These exfootball players are easy targets. 

Agree. I could get some having understandable reasoning to take a couple years or so at times to come forth. But 30 years is hard to believe

[Beast]

26 minutes ago, Southern_Bills said:

 

Failed to supervise him? Are you saying players need supervision to obey the law and have basic human decency? Wow, I hope I read that wrong.

 

No, I pulled that quote out because it is the most ridiculous claim ever. Employers aren't obligated to supervise people while they are away from work.

[Just in Atlanta]

Isn't there a legal (and logical) statute of limitations for something like this? 

And concerning Nirvana baby, he has profited off this album cover, even doing promotional shoots a few years ago to celebrate an anniversary. If he didn't get royalties (not sure that is even correct) it's his parents' fault not Nirvana. 

[Patrick Duffy]

8 minutes ago, Beast said:

 

No, I pulled that quote out because it is the most ridiculous claim ever. Employers aren't obligated to supervise people while they are away from work.

Remember Jerry Jones did that with Dez Bryant (I think it was). Wanted him supervised at all times or whatever lol

[Sharky7337]

I used to go there all the time when I was 21. Place is kinda tiny I'm surprised he was able to do anything like that.

[Patrick Duffy]

5 minutes ago, Just in Atlanta said:

Isn't there a legal (and logical) statute of limitations for something like this? 

And concerning Nirvana baby, he has profited off this album cover, even doing promotional shoots a few years ago to celebrate an anniversary. If he didn't get royalties (not sure that is even correct) it's his parents' fault not Nirvana. 

It definitely should be for sure

[Captain Caveman]

3 hours ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

I believe off the field issues are not supposed to factor in to the voting; however, I'm sure for some (maybe many?) it does.

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the Hall of Fame (which I don't think he necessarily belongs)

 

There's no voting for Wall of Fame that I'm aware of, I'm pretty sure it's entirely up to ownership.

[Bangarang]

The timing of this fascinates me.

[Captain Caveman]

Everyone questioning the timing should maybe slow down.  If you're a 17 year old girl in 1992 how comfortable are you coming forward with these allegations (keeping in mind the team's popularity and Bennet's importance.)  There's been a sea change in how these things are viewed in the last 30 years, it doesn't mean it wasn't wrong then.  And I'm not saying he's guilty either, just that there's no good reason to judge this woman right now.

 

Re: suing the NFL and or team, and their culpability, maybe she does feel like she should be compensated and that's her best course (I don't know the state of CB's financial affairs.)  It does seem like a big stretch to claim they are responsible for their employee unless there is some other prior knowledge or action taken (let's say if Bennet was previously accused and it is shown that the team or league covered it up.)

Edited September 3, 2021 by Captain Caveman

[billsfan1959]

19 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the Hall of Fame (which I don't think he necessarily belongs)

 

There's no voting for Wall of Fame that I'm aware of, I'm pretty sure it's entirely up to ownership.

 

Ha! I thought he wrote "Hall" of Fame. Those senior moments....

[Patrick Duffy]

8 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

Everyone questioning the timing should maybe slow down.  If you're a 17 year old girl in 1992 how comfortable are you coming forward with these allegations (keeping in mind the team's popularity and Bennet's importance.)  There's been a sea change in how these things are viewed in the last 30 years, it doesn't mean it wasn't wrong then.  And I'm not saying he's guilty either, just that there's no good reason to judge this woman right now.

Being 17 yrs old I can get waiting a few years. But 30 years I can't understand. In 2002 she would have been 27. A grown woman, so the young stuff goes out the window. 2012 she hits 37 yrs old. Still nothing, moving forward to now she should be 46 going on 47. Now she decides she's comfortable? I just don't buy it

Edited September 3, 2021 by Sheneneh Jenkins

[BRH]

3 hours ago, No Place To Hyde said:

Wait, the Bills and NFL didn't properly supervise him...but she was 17 and unsupervised in a bar selling flowers?

 

This ain't it.

4 minutes ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

 In 2002 she would have been 27. A grown woman, so the young stuff goes out the window.

 

What exactly do you mean by that?

[Captain Caveman]

1 minute ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

Being 17 yrs old I can get waiting a few years. But 30 years I can't understand. In 2002 she would have been 27. A grown woman, so the young stuff goes out the window. 2012 she hits 37 yrs old. Still nothing, moving forward to now she should be 46 going on 47. Now she decides she's comfortable? I just don't buy it

 

There is a lot of writing out there about why people wait to disclose sexual assault, it's been happening for years (think Boy Scouts, Catholic Church, etc...) 

[Patrick Duffy]

2 minutes ago, BRH said:

 

This ain't it.

 

What exactly do you mean by that?

It's not difficult....poster said in 1992 she was 17 and young, which I agree with. I said by 2007 she was 27 yrs old. Meaning not a young teenage girl anymore. Very simple

1 minute ago, Captain Caveman said:

 

There is a lot of writing out there about why people wait to disclose sexual assault, it's been happening for years (think Boy Scouts, Catholic Church, etc...) 

I get that, but 30 years just seems fishy

[Chandler#81]

30 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the Hall of Fame (which I don't think he necessarily belongs)

 

There's no voting for Wall of Fame that I'm aware of, I'm pretty sure it's entirely up to ownership.

Then you’re simply not aware. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[Captain Caveman]

Just now, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

It's not difficult....poster said in 1992 she was 17 and young, which I agree with. I said by 2007 she was 27 yrs old. Meaning not a young teenage girl anymore. Very simple

I get that, but 30 years just seems fishy

How many boy scouts and altar boys came out 30+ years later?  Bennet has a history of sexual assault during that time period.  If you have a hard time giving the alleged victim the benefit of the doubt then literally the least you can do is keep it to yourself.

[Patrick Duffy]

Just now, Captain Caveman said:

How many boy scouts and altar boys came out 30+ years later?  Bennet has a history of sexual assault during that time period.  If you have a hard time giving the alleged victim the benefit of the doubt then literally the least you can do is keep it to yourself.

I honestly can't think of any that went 30 yrs. I recall hearing about some that was around 15-20 years. Also yes I have a hard time giving the benefit of doubt and no I will not keep it to myself as this is a message board. Also it looks as if there are quite a few in this thread that are questioning the 30 yrs. You don't like it, don't read it then and keep it to Yourself. 

 

See how that can work?

[BRH]

9 minutes ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

I honestly can't think of any that went 30 yrs. I recall hearing about some that was around 15-20 years. Also yes I have a hard time giving the benefit of doubt and no I will not keep it to myself as this is a message board. Also it looks as if there are quite a few in this thread that are questioning the 30 yrs. You don't like it, don't read it then and keep it to Yourself. 

 

See how that can work?

 

Hardly the same thing.

[Chandler#81]

47 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the Hall of Fame (which I don't think he necessarily belongs)

 

There's no voting for Wall of Fame that I'm aware of, I'm pretty sure it's entirely up to ownership.

Quit while you’re ahead.

 

Wait.

 

Too late for that. 🤦‍♂️

[MJS]

People try to bury these things and move on. I don't think it is fishy for someone to come out 30 years later. It can take 30 years for people to finally get the courage to do something. For many people, they NEVER get the courage.

 

Have to let it play out in a court of law. I highly doubt there is any kind of evidence, so it's going to be her word against his.

[Patrick Duffy]

6 minutes ago, BRH said:

 

Hardly the same thing.

Wha? What's hardly the same thing? Don't know what you're talking about? Unless you mean 17 yrs old and 27 yrs old are hardly the same and no longer a teenager? In which case you would be agreeing with me

Edited September 3, 2021 by Sheneneh Jenkins

[foreboding]

5 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

It's true.  He served prison time after pleading guilty to sexual assault in Buffalo in 1997.  It's the real reason he's not on the Wall of Fame.

Wow. Makes sense, I never knew these things about him. Sucks.

4 hours ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

I believe off the field issues are not supposed to factor in to the voting; however, I'm sure for some (maybe many?) it does.

The wall is decided by who? I always assumed the owners, not voters.