College Faces Negligence Suits After Students Fall Out Windows

By Matt Green

Published on September 16, 2005

Bennington graduate Cristian Panaite recently filed a negligence lawsuit against the college for an accident that occurred in 2001.

His lawsuit comes after a similar incident in March, when one student was injured and another died after leaning against and falling through a window in the college's arts building.

Panaite, who graduated this year, said Bennington could've prevented the recent accident if it had installed safer windows in 2001. That year, Panaite was sitting on a plastic chair in the arts building, when the chair's leg broke.

Panaite grabbed for a friend to stop his fall. Instead, both students fell against and broke through a window, landing on the studio floor below. Panaite sustained minor injuries.

Panaite said the 2001 accident occurred on the same floor as the most recent one. On March 30, students Laura Jawitz and Kelly Muzzi were rehearsing in a dance studio when they leaned on a window and broke through, falling 20 feet to a brick patio.

Muzzi died April 1. Her family is considering legal action. Jawitz sued for more than $75,000 in federal court.

State inspectors didn't find building code violations. Still, the college has replaced some windows in the arts building with stronger safety glass.

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