Benoit Family Sues UI For $3 Million

Images from the memorial service for Katy Benoit Aug. 30, 2011, at Boise High School. (Idaho Statesman/AP photo: Chris Butler)

By filing the claim, Katy Benoit’s family has taken the first step toward suing the University of Idaho over its hiring, supervision and retention of their daughter’s former professor, lover and killer, Ernesto Bustamante. The tort claim puts the university on notice of damages the family could seek in court. The claim was filed Dec. 8; the university did not file a response within 90 days, which ended earlier this week. That means the Benoits are free to file a lawsuit against the university, which they had not done as of Friday afternoon. U of I officials declined comment Friday. A lawyer for the Benoit family did not respond to a request for comment and details about the allegations in the claim. Moscow police say 31-year-old Bustamante shot and killed Benoit, 22, at her off-campus home Aug. 22 — the first day of fall classes — and then killed himself the next morning/ Patrick Orr . Idaho Statesman. More here.

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