Center City law partner found beaten on street

A partner in the Dilworth Paxson law firm was recovering from neurosurgery today after he was found beaten by a brick last night at 63rd Street and Passyunk Avenue, the second such attack in as many nights, police said.

Gino J. Benedetti, 45, was attacked at about 7:30 p.m. as he got out of his Acura car in a parking lot between a car wash and a video store, said Lt. John Walker of the Southwest Detectives Special Investigation Unit.

Walker said the attempted robbery was strikingly similar to a robbery that occurred Wednesday night at 61st and Passyunk in which a 64-year-old man was approached by two men who hit him in the head with a brick after he surrendered his wallet. In that case, the man was treated and released from a hospital after receiving stitches.

"We're thinking the same thing happened here," said Walker.

But Benedetti apparently fought back and did not surrender his property - police recovered his wallet and his cell phone. After being struck, he staggered into the Venus Video store, where an employee called police. Walker said a bloody red brick was recovered at the scene.

Benedetti, the chief of the firm's labor and employment law group, was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he underwent surgery. Walker said he was in no condition to be interviewed today.

"He was really severely beaten," said Joseph H. Jacovini, chairman of the Dilworth firm, who visited Benedetti this morning. "When I saw him, he had recovered consciousness and his doctors were optimistic as to his recovery."

Police said Benedetti left the law firm at 18th and Market Street in Center City at 6:30 p.m.

"You hear all the time about random violence - shootings, muggings, killings," said Jacovini. "This brings it home. Something has to be done."

Benedetti has been with Dilworth Paxon for about a year. He was formerly a partner in Miller, Alfano & Raspanti. He is a board member of the Police Athletic League.

He is a resident of Media and is known as an avid bicyclist - Jacovini said Benedetti sometimes cycled to work from Media.